A novel modular polymer platform for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in an animal model.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a novel modular polymer platform in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Design: In vivo study.
Setting: Academic research laboratory. Subjects and
Methods: C3H/HeJ mice and SCID/beige mice were randomized to receive implantation of no polymer, plain polymer, plain polymer with local cisplatin injection, or cisplatin polymer. The 2 groups of mice implanted with cisplatin polymer or no polymer were further randomized to receive 4 Gy of external beam radiation for 4 days or no radiation. Tumor size was measured until the mice were humanely killed. At necropsy, the tumors were excised and weighed.
Results: There was a significant reduction in tumor growth using this novel polymer platform. The cisplatin-secreting polymer effectively reduced human head and neck tumor growth in SCID mice by 17-fold and SCC VII/SF tumors in C3H/HeJ mice by more than 16-fold compared with the control, plain polymer, and plain polymer + intratumoral cisplatin injection groups (P = .01 for both). We also observed a statistically significant lower tumor weight in mice treated with cisplatin polymer and concomitant radiation compared with the radiation alone and control groups.
Conclusions: We demonstrate the efficacy of a novel polymer platform in delivering cisplatin to a partially resected SCC in a murine model. This polymer may represent a new therapeutic modality for patients with HNSCC. Once this polymer platform is optimized, we will plan for validation in the context of a prospective trial in patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent HNSCC.