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J L Lefebvre

Publications and source records attributed to J L Lefebvre.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Modification of the infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap.

BACKGROUND: In 1986, Wang described the infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap. Here, we report technical adaptations and improvements to this flap. METHODS: From 1994 to 1996, we performed 61 infrahyoid flaps using the classical procedure. After 5 years of technical evolution, we studied a new series of 91 flaps from January 2000 to June 2002. We reviewed our experience with the infra hyoid flap and described the surgical procedure, its evolution and the impact on the viability of the flap. RESULTS: In the two series, the main arterial pedicle was usually the superior thyroid artery. Venous drainage was more variable; consequently we always performed a modified neck dissection with preservation of the internal jugular vein. In the first series, the surgical results were good with only seven local complications essentially skin necrosis. The functional and aesthetic results seemed acceptable. In the second series, the results, after technical evolution with better venous drainage and cervical closure, were improved (only one necrosis) and the indications were extended. CONCLUSION: With experience, the infra hyoid myocutaneous flaps is reliable and appears as a particularly useful flap for oral cavity, oral pharynx and pharyngeolaryngeal reconstruction.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

French version of FACT-G: validation and comparison with other cancer-specific instruments.

The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the French version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G), and to compare its psychometric properties with those of two other cancer-specific quality of life questionnaires, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life - Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Functional Living Index - Cancer (FLIC). Two hundred and twenty three patients with breast or colorectal cancer completed the FACT-G questionnaire in French followed by (in random order) the QLQ-C30 and FLIC. An additional 87 patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer completed the FACT-H&N followed by the QLQ-C30 and H&N-Besançon. The French version of FACT-G was internally consistent, and its reproducibility was excellent. FACT-G Physical Well-Being and global scores correlated with all QLQ-C30 subscales. There was evidence of discriminant validity. Compared with the other tools, FACT-G included a statistically significantly higher proportion of items patients considered to be confusing or upsetting. Patients with breast or colorectal cancer expressed a preference for QLQ-C30. Use of the specific H&N additional items increased the responsiveness to change of FACT-G. The French version of FACT-G is valid and has psychometric properties similar to those of FLIC and QLQ-C30.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

[Larynx preservation: nonsurgical approaches].

The question of larynx preservation is central in the management of patients with a carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx, especially to preserve the main functions of the larynx. In early stages (T1-earlyT2) Larynx preservation can generally be obtained with partial surgery or radiotherapy. Some other approaches such as exclusive chemotherapy require further investigations. In locally advanced and infiltrating larynx/hypopharynx carcinomas, (advancedT2-T3), several ways have been used to preserve the larynx including exclusive radiotherapy which can be improved by modified fractionation and acceleration. The efficacy of radiotherapy can be also markedly increased by adding concomitant cisplatin based chemotherapy, as reported recently in a large randomized trial. An alternative approach consisted in using induction chemotherapy (cisplatin-5FU) and followed by a local treatment adapted to the response to chemotherapy. The combined analysis of 3 such randomized trials (GETTEC, Veteran et EORTC) showed that this approach has to be used with caution, and could be safer in good responders to induction chemotherapy. Finally, larynx preservation is generally not proposed in patients with deeply infiltrating tumors and or tumor invading the cartilage or soft tissue in the neck (T4).

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed2003

Docetaxel induction therapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) are often treated with induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, but to date without major impact on survival. The combination of cisplatin-5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (PF) has been used as standard induction therapy; however, poor patient survival has stimulated investigation into new agents with potential activity in SCCHN. Docetaxel has significant single-agent activity in SCCHN and has been investigated in combination with PF regimens as induction therapy. The results of six phase II studies of docetaxel-PF regimens (TPF) as induction in locally advanced SCCHN patients are reviewed and reported. Consistently, high 2-year survival rates and overall response rates were demonstrated across the phase II trials in the range 42-82 and 71-100%, respectively. The toxicity profile seen with TPF-based regimens was acceptable. The primary toxicity was neutropenia, which together with gastrointestinal complaints accounted for the majority of adverse events. Given the encouraging phase II experience with TPF-based regimens, two large-scale phase III studies comparing TPF-based regimens with standard PF regimens are underway. The results have significant potential for validating the findings of the phase II studies, demonstrating improved survival and overall response of patients treated with docetaxel-based induction chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2001

Pemetrexed disodium in recurrent locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

This phase II study determined response rate of patients with locally advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer treated with pemetrexed disodium, a new multitargeted antifolate that inhibits thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase. 35 patients with local or metastatic relapse of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (31 male, 4 female; median age 53 years) were treated with pemetrexed 500 mg m(2)administered as a 10-minute infusion on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. Patients received 1 to 8 cycles of therapy. 9 patients (26.5%) had an objective response, with a median response duration of 5.6 months (range 2.9-20 months). 15 (44.1%) had stable disease, and 8 (23.5%) had progressive disease. 2 patients were not assessable for response. Median overall survival was 6.4 months (range 0.7-28.1 months; 95% CI: 3.9-7.7 months). 24 patients (68.6%) experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia, with febrile neutropenia in 4 (11.4%). Grade 3/4 anaemia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 11 (34.3%) and 6 (17.1%) patients, respectively. The most frequent non-haematological toxicity was grade 3/4 mucositis (17.1%; 6 patients). In conclusion, pemetrexed is active in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Although substantial haematological toxicities were experienced by patients, subsequent studies have shown that these toxicities can be proactively managed by folic acid and vitamin B(12)supplementation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in elderly patients: a long-term retrospective review of 273 cases.

BACKGROUND: The prolongation of life expectancy results in an increasing number of malignant neoplasms occurring in the elderly population. For a long time these patients were not considered good candidates to receive aggressive therapy and probably were inadequately treated in many instances. OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of patients older than 74 years who had had head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our database of 4610 consecutive patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas who were evaluated and treated at the Centre Oscar Lambret, Northern France Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lille, over a 10-year period (1974-1983), we identified 273 patients who were 75 years or older. The outcome was updated for all patients included in the database. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of females were noted in the older patient group (43/273, 15.8%) than in younger patient group (192/4337, 4.4%, P<.001). There were no differences for primary site except for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma that occurred less frequently in the elderly patients (8.8% vs 14.5%, borderline significance P =.02). There were no differences for TNM stage grouping, histological classification, incidences of previous cancer, and comorbidities. Surgery was performed in a smaller proportion of older patients (13.9% vs 27.4%, P<.001, for the primary site and 15.4% vs 35.6%, P<.001, for those occurring in the neck) as well as chemotherapy that was delivered in 5.5% vs 17.7% (P<.001). On the contrary, there was no difference in radiotherapeutic treatments. Tolerance to treatment was similar and there was the same proportion of persistent diseases 2 months after completion of the overall treatment (27.8% vs 25.4%, P =.94). Pooling local, regional, and distant failures and metachronous cancers, there was a borderline lower incidence in older patients (57.1% vs 64.2%, P =.02), which is explained by an obvious shorter life expectancy. If survival is not meaningful in such a comparison (5-year survival 23.8% vs 36.4%), then the causes of deaths may be compared. Among the 4067 patients who were dead at the last update, index tumor evolution-related deaths numbered 130 (48.1% of dead patients in this cohort) in older patients compared with 2045 (53.9% of dead patients in this cohort), which was not significantly different. There was no difference in treatment-related deaths (11.1% vs 9.3%). Fewer intercurrent disease-related deaths occurred in the older patients (19.7% vs 11.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in elderly patients did not seem to have a significantly different outcome when compared with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma occurring in younger patients. When properly monitored, conventional therapies seem feasible in older patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for wound infection in head and neck cancer surgery: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this prospective study is to determine risk factors for wound infections (WI) for patients with head and neck cancer who underwent surgical procedure with opening of upper aerodigestive tract mucosa. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five consecutive surgical procedures were studied at Oscar Lambret Cancer Center within a 24-month interval. Twenty-five variables were recorded for each patient. Statistical evaluation used Chi2 test analysis (categorical data) and Mann-Whitney test (continuous variables). RESULTS: The overall rate of WI was 41.8%. Univariate analysis indicated that five variables were significantly related to the likelihood of WI: tumor stage (p =.044), previous chemotherapy (p =.008), duration of preoperative hospital stay (p = 022), permanent tracheostomy (p =.00008), and hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers (p =.008). CONCLUSIONS: Despite antibiotic prophylaxis, WI occurrence is high. These data inform the head and neck surgeon, when a patient is at risk for WI and may help to design future prospective studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Economic assessments of head and neck cancers: a review].

The aim of this study is to perform a review of the literature on economic studies in the area of head and neck cancer (including the cancers of the buccal cavity, the larynx, and the pharynx). French and international literature (as reported on Medline and OHE-IFPMA databases) has been reviewed. This research demonstrated the lack of economic data in this field. In France, only one study was found, assessing the cost of the treatment of head and neck cancer in hospital to 29 billions French Francs including 2.3 billions linked to head and neck cancer. This relative indifference is possibly due to the heterogeneity and the low incidence of the studied pathologies. In addition, the research highlighted the great interest of dealing with quality of life in such physically and psychologically disabling illnesses. To facilitate the decision making and to allow optimal resource allocation in the area of costly health strategies, we should develop in France an economic evaluation of the head and neck cancer, while taking care of integrating the notion of quality of life into the analysis.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2000

Randomized trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in oropharyngeal carcinoma. French Groupe d'Etude des Tumeurs de la Tête et du Cou (GETTEC).

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the survival of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Patients with a squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx for whom curative radiotherapy or surgery was considered feasible were entered in a multicentric randomized trial comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by loco-regional treatment to the same loco-regional treatment without chemotherapy. The loco-regional treatment consisted either of surgery plus plus radiotherapy or of radiotherapy alone. Three cycles of chemotherapy consisting of Cisplatin (100 mg/m2) on day 1 followed by a 24-hour i.v. infusion of fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2/day) for 5 days were delivered every 21 days. 2-3 weeks after the end of chemotherapy, local treatment was performed. The trial was conducted by the Groupe d'Etude des Tumeurs de la Tête Et du Cou (GETTEC). A total of 318 patients were enrolled in the study between 1986 and 1992. Overall survival was significantly better (P = 0.03) in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group than in the control group, with a median survival of 5.1 years versus 3.3 years in the no chemotherapy group. The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on event-free survival was smaller and of borderline significance (P = 0.11). Stratification of the results on the type of local treatment, surgery plus radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone, did not reveal any heterogeneity in the effect of chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Organ preservation ... where do we stand?

Organ preservation in advanced larynx and hypopharynx cancers can be achieved using irradiation, subtotal larynx surgery and induction chemotherapy, but larynx preservation remains investigational.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1999

[Wound infection in head and neck cancer surgery].

Wound infections (WIs) are the main cause of post-surgical morbidity in head and neck surgery. They arise with an especially immunocompromised predisposition and mainly involve oropharyngeal flora bacteria. However, the assessment of the incidence of these infections differs in the literature (0 to 87%). This in part accounts for the lack of a real consensus as to the definition (do all mucocutaneous fistulae attest to WIs?). For this reason, the analysis of their risk factors and the means of the prevention is difficult. In class 1 surgery, the incidence of WIs ranges 0 to 6%. In this case, antiobioprophylaxis does not seem to be justified. In surgery opening the mucosa, it is difficult to classify the surgical procedures in Altemeier's classes 2 and 3. There are many arguments, in particular physiopathological arguments, to consider that the contamination of surgical bed of surgery does continue after the operation. The incidence of WIs varies widely from one study to the next. Without antibiotic prophylaxis, from 40 to 87% WIs are observed. With preventive antibiotherapy, the incidence ranges between 3.4 to 47%. Various risk factors have been described, in particular: tumour size and node extension, tracheotomy prior to surgery. Four multi-factor studies have shown, in multivariate analysis, totally different risk factors. The prevention of these WIs is currently based on hospital hygiene rules and antibiotic prophylaxis. The optimum conditions have still not been determined. Reliable data to define, the incidence and risk factors of these WIs are missing. New prospective studies are definitely required.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
PubMed1998

Larynx preservation: the discussion is not closed.

Advanced but resectable larynx and hypopharynx squamous cell carcinomas are, in the vast majority of cases, treated by radical surgery and postoperative irradiation, resulting in the total ablation of the voice box. Some institutions prefer to use irradiation and reserve radical surgery for salvage. There is no randomized comparison of results obtained with these two strategies. Induction chemotherapy with the use of platinum and 5-fluorouracil provides notable response rates and allows the prediction of radiosensitivity in those patients who show a response to chemotherapy. This has been the basis of the most frequent larynx preservation approach: induction chemotherapy followed by irradiation in good responders or by radical surgery in poor responders. This strategy did not jeopardize survival and allowed larynx preservation in 50% to 66% of survivors. These results are of importance but it should nonetheless be remembered that irradiation is an efficient treatment of these tumors and may have an improved activity (with modified fractionation or concurrent administration of chemotherapy and irradiation) and that selected cases are amenable to subtotal laryngectomy. On the other hand, new prospects for treatment are emerging (biologic tools, place of imaging), as well as new parameters for the success of treatment (quality of life, quality of preserved function, cost effectiveness). In summary, larynx preservation is undoubtedly feasible but remains investigational.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1998

Randomized trial of induction chemotherapy in larynx carcinoma.

We conducted a randomized study in patients with previously untreated advanced (T3) larynx carcinoma to compare total laryngectomy followed by radiotherapy to induction chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy in good responders, and by total laryngectomy plus radiotherapy in poor responders. A total of 68 patients were included in the study, 36 in the induction chemotherapy group and 32 in the no chemotherapy group. 15 of the 36 patients in the induction chemotherapy group did not have a laryngectomy. Survival and disease-free survival were significantly worse in the induction chemotherapy group than in the no chemotherapy group (P = 0.006 and P = 0.02, respectively). The 2-year survival rates were 69% in the induction chemotherapy group and 84% in the no chemotherapy group. Larynx preservation for patients, selected on the basis of having responded to induction chemotherapy, cannot be considered a standard treatment at the present time.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Ongoing trials in patients with head and neck cancer.

Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has recently undergone several important changes. New approaches to treating these tumours are now being evaluated. An overview of the surgical, radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic therapies or multimodality approaches currently under study are described. In addition, the design of ongoing chemoprevention trials is reported.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗