ONCOmmunity

Effect of Concomitant Lafutidine on Adjuvant S-1 for Head and Neck Cancer: A Comparative Study.

By: Koichiro Yoshino, Isaku Okamoto, Hiroki Sato, Takuro Okada, Kunihiko Tokashiki, Takahito Kondo, Kiyoaki Tsukahara

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
2021-09-24; doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15449

Abstract

Background/aim

This study evaluated the utility of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist lafutidine in patients taking oral fluorouracil (S-1) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), by comparing patients with and without concomitant lafutidine.

Patients

Study subjects comprised 63 patients who received adjuvant S-1 following curative resection of HNSCC at our institutions between August 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of S-1 therapy.

Results

For the lafutidine-treated group, the median completion rate was significantly greater (94.4% vs. 24.6%, p=0.01), and progression-free and overall survival were both significantly prolonged compared to the non-lafutidine group. In terms of adverse events, the incidence of diarrhoea was significantly reduced (p<0.00189) in the lafutidine-treated group.

Conclusion

Taking lafutidine during S-1 treatment appeared to reduce gastrointestinal disturbance and increased the S-1 completion rate, improving both progression-free and overall survival as a result.