title: [Chemotherapy of epidermoid cancer of the oropharyngeolaryngeal region].
abstract: For many years, chemotherapy of head and neck carcinoma has been confined to the treatment of metastases and local recurrences. As regard monotherapy, methotrexate and bleomycin were among the most active drugs, leading mainly to partial responses. Platinum derivatives were more efficient but did not improve survival. Combinations of drugs including cisplatin lead to 60% overall responses and 20% complete responses without improvement in survival. Induction chemotherapy with cisplatin-5 FU in the majority of protocols, lead to 90% overall responses, half of them being complete. However, even though induction chemotherapy decreases the occurrence of metastasis and allows organ (larynx) preservation, it does not improve disease-free survival, nor overall survival. Based on recent studies, concomitant radio-chemotherapy is a promising approach. In addition, clinical trials on chemoprevention of local recurrences and secondary cancers with retinoids derivatives are undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Service hématologie-oncologie, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery
vernacular_title: Chimiothérapie des cancers épidermöides oro-pharyngo-laryngés.