INTRAARTERIAL CISPLATIN FOLLOWED BY IRRADIATION IN ADVANCED HEAD AND NECK-CANCER - LONE TERM RESULTS

Background: The objective of this study was to improve the results of irradiation by prior application of intraarterial (i.a.) chemotherapy with cisplatin. Methods: Sixty-three patients suffering from advanced head and neck cancer without previous treatment were prepared for intr aarterial chemotherapy by neck dissection without resection of the pri mary tumor and by modification of the carotid artery by creating a mor e inferiorly positioned bifurcation to facilitate intermittent i.a. in fusion. The patients received approximately 400 mg cisplatin over a pe riod of four to five weeks followed by irradiation with Co-60 (64 Gy H D). Results: The survival rate at five years in all patients with adeq uate i.a. chemotherapy was 19 of 49 (39%), except those with adenoid-c ystic carcinoma, who had a five-year-survival rate of 100%. Conclusion : The results indicate that inductive i.a. chemotherapy with cisplatin has a positive influence on the outcome of irradiation even in inoper able head and neck cancer, which is defined by a longer period of remi ssion with the possibility of curing the disease.