Chemotherapy with Higher or Lower Dose of Teniposide Combined with Cisplatin and Pingyangmycin for Oral Squamous Cells Carcinoma

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and toxicity of teniposide (Vm-26) of higher dose with those of lower dose, both combined with cisplatin (CDDP) and pingyangmycin (PYM), in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of oral and maxillofacial region (SCCOMR). Material and Methods: Sixty-five patients with SCCOMR were entered into this study prospectively. Thirty-three patients were treated with higher dose of VM-26 (total dose was 320mg) combined with CDDP and PYM (PTP1), other thirty-two patients were treated with lower dose (total dose was 158mg) of Vm-26 combined with CDDP and PYM (PTP2). Results: Thirty-three patients received a total of 38 cycles of PTP1. The overall response rate was 81.82% (27/33). Thirty-two patients received a total of 36 cycles of PTP2 and showed overall response rate by 81.25% (26/32). There was no significant difference between PTP1 and PTP2 groups in response rate (p>0.05). But the blood toxicity was more severe in PTP1 group than in PTP2 group (p<0.01). Bone marrow depression rate (1-4 stage) was 48.48% in PTP1 group versus 25.00% in the other group. Conclusion: A high response rate of 81.25% and relative slighter adverse events could be obtained for lower dose of Vm-26 combined with CDDP and PYM (PTP2). So, the chemotherapy schedule, PTP2, a novel teniposide based regimen in SCCOMR could be employed and spread in clinical practice.