title: Multimodality preoperative treatment for advanced stage IV (MO) cancer of the head and neck.
abstract: Sixty-three patients with advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. We observed a 75% response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate for all 63 patients was 20%, and only 3 patients were alive at 8 years. The 5-year survival rate for patients who completed the treatment plan and received chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery was 43% compared with 20% for those who had chemotherapy and radiation but refused surgery. Development of a second primary cancer was the cause of death in 62% of the patients who survived more than 24 months.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Service (112), Veterans Administration Medical Center, East Orange, New Jersey 07019.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mohit-Tabatabai
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raina
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohanian
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans