CISPLATINUM AND INTERSTITIAL LASER THERAPY FOR ADVANCED HEAD AND NECK-CANCER - A PRECLINICAL STUDY

Background and Objective: Direct intratumor injection of cisplatinum ( CDDP) and laser therapy were tested for improved treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). Study Design/Materials and Methods: Human SCCA tumors were grown as sc transplants in nude mice and injected with CD DP (0.4-1.2 mg/gm) in water or in collagen-based gel carrier with epin ephrine (epi-gel), followed by interstitial laser therapy (ILT) via 0. 6 mm fiberoptics (532 nm/300J). Results: Tumors injected with CDDP epi -gel exhibited a partial response with 2-4-fold tumor growth delay, co mpared to aqueous drug or untreated SCCA transplants during 10-week fo llow-up. Combined drug and laser therapy significantly decreased tumor volume with recurrence in only 25% (2/8) of animals tested, compared to 66% tumor regrowth (10/15) after ILT alone. Conclusion: These initi al results suggest laser chemotherapy may become an effective treatmen t for advanced head and neck cancer. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.