Treatment results for malignant skull base lesions may be improved wit
h combined modality therapy Using a novel drug infusion technique that
capitalizes on the pharmacodynamic cisplatin-neutralizing properties
of thiosulfate, 14 patients (6 untreated, 8 recurrent) received cispla
tin (120 to 200 Mg/M2 for 1 to 4 weeks X 2-4 cycles) as part of a mult
imodality treatment program. Histology included squamous cell carcinom
a, 11 patients (8 upper aerodigestive tract, 3 cutaneous); sarcoma, 2
patients (malignant fibrous histiocytoma, synovial cell sarcoma); and
salivary gland cancer, 1 patient. The lesions involved die lateral sku
ll base (12 patients) and the anterior (2 patients). Dose intensities
for cisplatin were between 33.3 and 200 mg/m2/wk. Major responses occu
rred in 9/14 patients (64.3%), 3 of whom had complete responses. Drug
toxicity, occurring in 11 patients, was mild and there were no signifi
cant complications as a result of the infusions. Eleven patients subse
quently underwent surgical resections. The mean survival time is 23.3
months. Eight patients are alive without disease, 2 alive with disease
, and 4 are dead of disease. The effectiveness of this highly selectiv
e supradose cisplatin infusion technique and its low morbidity support
continued investigations of its application to patients with cranial
base malignancies.