Study of the role of synchronous 5-fluorouracil infusion and radiotherapy in advanced and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Forty-eight untreated patients with stage 3 and 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx were treated by a telecobalt 60-70 2 Gy irradiation with synchronous weekly 600 mg/m 5-FU intravenous infusions throughout the radiation course. Eleven patients [27.5%] of the available group showed complete response, which was proved by histopathologic examination and 17 patients achieved partial response, with an overall response rate of 70%. Sex, site of primary tumor, T-stage, N-stage and initial mononucleated cell count abnormalities had a high statistically significant correlation to both complete response and overall response. TNM stage could be significantly correlated with the overall response rate. Age had no relation to response rate

Prognostic value of initial mononucleated cell counts in patients with stage III squamouns cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx

The prognostic value of initial mononucleated cell counts has been evaluated in 48 patients with stage 3 and 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. The patients were treated with synchronous 5 - fluorouracil weekly infusions and radiation therapy. Twenty-four patients [50%] were considered to have abnormal counts. The abnormal counts were significantly correlated to both T and N stages. All complete responders and 12 out of 17 partial responders had their counts within normal limits. The nonresponders group were 12 patients, normal-counts were fo++ und in 1 patient of them. Mononucleated cell counts abnormalities seem to have an important prognostic value