|
Thirty-two patients with previously untreated, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with 2 or 3 cycles of combination chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil infusion and cisplatin (FP), followed by curative radiotherapy. Three patients(9%) achieved complete responses and 25(78%), partial responses after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Following subsequent radiotherapy, 16(50%) achieved complete responses and 14(44%), partial responses, giving overall response rate of 94% with a median duration of response of 24.0+ and 9.5 months, respectively. The median survivals of the patients with complete and partial responses were 24.0+ and 11.0 months, respectively. The median survival of the patients with complete responses were significantly prolonged in comparison with that of those with partial responses. Toxicities from the treatments were common, but most of which were easily manageable and transient, with no treatment-related fatalities.
|