PMID: 7527591Oct 1, 1994Paper

Overview of platinum chemotherapy in head and neck cancer

Seminars in Oncology
A A Forastiere

Abstract

Platinum-based chemotherapy has been used to treat head and neck cancer for approximately 15 years. For patients with recurrent disease, cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and carboplatin/5-FU combinations have proved superior to single agents in producing higher overall response rates. However, survival rates are not substantially affected, indicating a need to identify alternative new agents with activity. Newly diagnosed patients with advanced stages III and IV disease generally have a poor prognosis. The most common site of failure and cause of death is locoregional recurrence. To improve survival and alter patterns of failure in this population, platinum-based chemotherapy regimens have been combined with surgery or radiotherapy as initial curative treatment. Cisplatin/5-FU chemotherapy in this setting is effective in significantly reducing the incidence of distant metastases as shown in several randomized trials. The sole indication for induction chemotherapy in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer is as an alternative to laryngectomy. The Department of Veterans Affairs Laryngeal Cancer Study Group trial demonstrated no significant differences in survival in patients who received induction cisplatin/5-FU and radiotherapy ...Continue Reading

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