Cancers & treatments·Regimen libraryInduction

TPF induction

Checked 2026-09-09

Locally advanced head and neck cancer where induction is chosen (larynx preservation, bulky nodes)

Also called TPF.

One cycle

every 21 days × 3-4 · about 9 weeks in total

21-day cycle × 3-4, then chemoradiation (about 9 weeks)Intravenous Continuous infusion

Components

Drug	Dose	Route	Days
Docetaxel Cytotoxic chemotherapy (taxane)	75 mg/m²	IV	D1
Cisplatin Cytotoxic chemotherapy (platinum)	75 mg/m²	IV	D1
Fluorouracil infusion Fluoropyrimidine antimetabolite	750 mg/m² per day	IV	D1-5 (120 h infusion)

Cycles

3-4, then chemoradiation

21-day cycle

Emetogenicity

High (>90%)

G-CSF

Recommended

Notes

Antibiotic prophylaxis and G-CSF were required in TAX 324; treatment-related deaths limit use to fit patients.

Used in

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Products

DocetaxelCisplatinFluorouracil (5-FU)

Source

TAX 323 (EORTC 24971), NEJM 2007

Reference doses for a typical adult from the cited protocol or label. Doses are adjusted for renal and hepatic function, age, performance status and prior toxicity, and institutional protocols vary. Verify against the current label and your local protocol before treating. Not medical advice.

Other regimens for these cancers

Weekly cisplatin chemoradiation (with pembrolizumab for high-risk disease)

Locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO IB2-IVA); pembrolizumab for FIGO 2014 III-IVA or node-positive

weekly × 5-6

Pembrolizumab monotherapy

Adjuvant melanoma stage IIB-IV (1 year); PD-L1 TPS 50% or above NSCLC; MSI-high tumours; recurrent head and neck (CPS 1 or above)

every 21 days

High-dose cisplatin chemoradiation

Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, definitive or postoperative (positive margins or extranodal extension)

every 21 days × 3

Pembrolizumab + platinum + fluorouracil

Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, first line

every 21 days

All regimens Pembrolizumab + platinum + fluorouracil →