RED-BLOOD-CELL GLUTATHIONE LEVELS BEFORE AND DURING TREATMENT WITH NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY CISPLATIN 5-FLUOROURACIL IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA/

The purpose of this study was to find out whether the glutathione (GSH ), in red blood cells could predict the response to neoadjuvant chemot herapy cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (CDDP/5-FU) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Three courses of induction chemo therapy with CDDP/5-FU were administered and followed by surgery and r adiotherapy or radiotherapy alone, in 51 patients with HNSCC. GSH was measured by spectrophotometry in red blood cell, before any treatment (Sample I: SI), after each course of chemotherapy (S2, S3, S4). Our re sults showed that GSH was the same at diagnosis in patients with compl ete or partial response (OR) compared to those with stable or progress ive disease (NR). With regard to evolution of the GSH during the 3 cou rses of CT a significant difference was found between courses (S2: 5.0 6 +/- 0.35 vs S4 = 3.61 +/- 0.4 mu mol/g haemoglobin, p < 0.05). When we separated our patients into OR and NR, a significant difference was found over the 3 courses of chemotherapy for GSH content. Non respond er patients showed decreased GSH content at the end of the treatment, (S2: 5 +/- 0.5 vs S4: 2.2 +/- 0.4 mu mol/g haemoglobin, p < 0.05) whil e OR were stable. In conclusion, red blood cell GSH seems to have no e arly predictive value for chemoresponse to neoadjuvant chemotherapy CD DP/5-FU in HNSCC.