Induction intra‐arterial cisplatin and bleomycin in head and neck cancer

Fifty‐two consecutive patients, affected by large T2 (>3 cm), T3, T4, N0, or N1 previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, entered this phase I ‐ II study. Treatment consisted of a continuous 8‐day infusion on the following daily schedule: cisplatin 25 mg and bleomycin 15 mg administered for 4 and 20 hours, respectively. Technical‐related toxicities were 1 case each of coagulation and displacement of the catheter and 1 case of reversible monoparesis of the contralateral arm. Drug‐related relevant toxicities accounted for 4 cases of grade 3 or 4 leukopenia and 2 cases of peripheral palsy of the 7th and 12th cranial nerve, respectively. Forty‐five of 50 evaluable patients obtained an objective response. In particular, 13 patients obtained a complete response, 22 a partial response ⩾75%, and 10 a partial response ⩾50%. Furthermore, 5 of 31 patients showed a complete pathologic disappearance of the tumor, whereas in 12 of 31 only a microscopic residue was found.