Treatment of advanced head and neck cancer by means of radiation therapy plus chemotherapy--a randomised trial.
Fifty-eight patients with advanced head and neck cancer were entered into a randomised trial comparing radical radiation therapy to the primary tumour and associated lymph node areas with a combination of radiation therapy plus chemotherapy. The distribution of tumour types and stages was similar in the two treatment groups. The response rates to radiation therapy alone (50% complete plus parital response) and to radiation therapy plus chemotherapy (60% complete plus partial response) were not significantly different. However, a significant difference in survival was found between the two groups. The median duration of survival for the patients treated by means of radiation therapy alone was 18 weeks; that for the combined therapy was 36 weeks. The combination of radical radiation therapy plus intermittent high-dose chemotherapy was well tolerated and appears to be an approach that warrants further trial.
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents