INFLUENCE OF CISPLATINUM AND 5-FLUOROURACIL ON THE ORAL-MUCOSA

In a prospective study we examined the effect of preoperative chemothe rapy with cisplatinum and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in 40 patients with a c arcinoma of the oral cavity. Histopathological grading, cell kinetic a nd immuno-histochemical parameters of the mucosa were determined at tw o different locations. Prior to therapy histological dysplasias ''clos e'' to the tumour were observed in the mucosa of 75% of the patients. Dysplastic changes of the mucosa ''far'' from the tumour were also fou nd in more than one third of the patients. Our results show that more advanced dysplasias improve under the influence of preoperative system ic chemotherapy only temporarily. Moreover, new dysplasias which appea red during chemotherapy and persisted after its termination are probab ly induced.