title: Induction chemotherapy (cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil) and radiotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: A phase II study was made of 58 consecutive patients with previously untreated locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The induction chemotherapy consisted of 3 courses of cisplatin (100 mg/m2) and a subsequent 120-h infusion of 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m2/24 h) repeated every 3 weeks. It was followed by radiotherapy to a median target dose of 66 Gy and surgery for residual tumour. A total of 91 per cent received all 3 courses of chemotherapy, which was well tolerated. Complete response (CR) was obtained in 20 patients (35%) after chemotherapy and in 40 patients (69%) after subsequent radiotherapy. The median observation time was 28 months (range 15-57). The actuarial survival at 2 years for complete responders to chemotherapy was 83 per cent, implying a prolonged survival (p = 0.002) compared to those with less than CR. Complete responders after chemotherapy had also a significantly longer recurrence-free survival, though 19 out of 20 did not undergo surgery. Complete response after this induction therapy is thus an important prognostic predictor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tennvall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albertsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biörklund
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wennerberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mercke
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil