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

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 and methods: 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.

Keywords: S-1; adjuvant chemotherapy; completion rate; head and neck cancer; lafutidine.