A novel approach to advanced carcinoma of the tongue: cases successfully treated with combination of superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy and external/high-dose-rate interstitial radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel treatment regimen, intra-arterial cisplatin infusion plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy.


METHODS
Superselective intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin (100-120 mg) was performed concomitantly with external radiotherapy in four patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the tongue. A high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost was performed after combination therapy in all patients. Brachytherapy was performed after external radiotherapy, and the treatment schedule was twice daily, with a fraction of 600 cGy up to a total of 30-48 Gy.


RESULTS
All patients completed the therapy as scheduled. There were no vascular or neurological complications. Grade III acute radiation mucositis developed in all patients but this did not necessitate a treatment break. With a mean follow-up period of 35 months, loco-regional control was obtained for all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of weekly administration of intra-arterial cisplatin plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy seems effective for advanced carcinoma of the tongue.
Nishioka
Takeshi
T
Laboratory of Radiation Therapy, Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. trout@radi.med.hokudai.ac.jp
Homma
Akihiro
A
Furuta
Yasushi
Y
Aoyama
Hidefumi
H
Suzuki
Fumiyuki
F
Ohmori
Keiichi
K
Asano
Takeshi
T
Yoshida
Daisuke
D
Shirato
Hiroki
H
Fukuda
Satoshi
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin