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Simultaneous combination radiotherapy and multidrug chemotherapy for stage III and stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Author(s) -
Smith Bert L.,
Franz Jerry L.,
Mira Joaquin G.,
Gates George A.,
Sapp J.,
Cruz A. B.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930150114
Subject(s) - medicine , stage (stratigraphy) , radiation therapy , bleomycin , chemotherapy , regimen , surgery , head and neck , basal cell , head and neck cancer , oncology , paleontology , biology
Combined simultaneous radiotherapy and multidrug chemotherapy have been utilized in an attempt to eradicate or shrink tumors of the head and neck area in advanced stages to allow subsequent surgical extirpation. Thirty‐six patients (1 stage II; 11 stage III; 24 stage IV; 1 unknown primary) were treated with simultaneous radiotherapy and fractionalized doses of bleomycin, adriamycin, and 5‐fluorouracil. Thirty of 36 patients completed the treatment schedule. Twenty‐nine of 30 (97%) had a 75% or greater response to treatment; 20/30 (66%) had 100% response; 9/30 (30%) had 75% response; and 1/30 had 50% response. Of the 30 patients completing the regimen, 19/30 (63%) are alive three to 27 months later, and 12 (40%) of these have no evidence of disease. Six patients died within four months of initiation of therapy, mostly from complications of their disease. This treatment regimen appears effective in the control of locoregional disease or to produce enough shrinkage of tumor to allow subsequent surgical extirpation.