Klin Onkol 1998; 11(1): 14-17.
Summary: Twenty patients with locally advanced non-metastatic (International Union Against Cancer and American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJC) stage III and IV) carcinoma of head and neck were treated with primary concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Radiation dose was either 200cGy once daily or 110 cGy twice daily 5 times weekly for two weeks. Concurrent with radiation, 5-Fluorouracil 750 mg/m2/day continuous infusion day 1 -5 and Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 short infusion on day 1 was administered. Three such courses were given with two week intervals in-between. Complete and partial response was observed in 17/20 (85%) and 3/20 (15%), respectively. Local control was maintained during the 2-year observation period in at least 50% of evaluable patients. Toxicity was acceptable even for elderly and frail patients. This regimen appears to be highly effective and widely practicable. It should be tested against more aggressive treatment protocols.
