Tumor response, toxicity, and survival after neoadjuvant organ-preserving chemotherapy for advanced laryngeal carcinoma. The Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Laryngeal Cancer Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
In 1984, the Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program began a trial in which patients with resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were randomized to receive standard surgery followed by radiation therapy or to receive neoadjuvant therapy with cisplatin and fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by radiation therapy for those achieving a greater than 50% tumor response to chemotherapy. This analysis reviews the tumor responses, toxicity, compliance, and long-term survival for those patients randomized to the chemotherapy arm.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-six patients were randomized to the chemotherapy arm. Standard tumor response data, chemotherapy toxicity, and survival have been examined using standard statistical methods.


RESULTS
The high response rates and acceptable toxicity to cisplatin and 5-FU of previously untreated patients were confirmed. Long-term disease-free survival was more likely to occur in patients who achieved a complete response to chemotherapy, particularly in those who had a confirmed histologic response to chemotherapy. Pretreatment histologic growth patterns were highly predictive of responses to chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was well tolerated and did not negatively affect the definitive treatment that followed. The survival of nonresponding patients who underwent prompt salvage surgery was also not impaired. The role of organ preservation should be explored in other head and neck sites.
Spaulding
M B
MB
Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo.
Fischer
S G
SG
Wolf
G T
GT
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012044:Regression Analysis
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil