title: Failure of second-line therapy to modify survival in relapsed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: Between August 1979 and August 1984, 47 consecutive patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck entered one of three consecutive second-line treatments. Response rates with each treatment were very different (70% vs 5.9% vs 75%), but there was no statistical difference in actuarial survival (survival: 30% vs 29% vs 20%, respectively, at 260 days). In light of this observation, the efficacy of the second-line therapy appears doubtful and the survival of relapsing patients seems unrelated to the response achieved.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents