Role of induction chemotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer prior to radical radiotherapy and/or surgery

ABSTRACT

This prospective randomized study included 57 previously untreated, stage III and IV head and neck cancer patients seen at Kasr El Aini Center of Oncology. Patients were randomly assigned to two arms; Arm [1] included 28 patients who received 2 courses of combination chemotherapy [Methotrexate, bleomycin and cisplatinum] followed by locoregional treatment, while arm [2] included 29 patients who received standard radiation treatment to the primary as well as regional nodes. The follow up period for all evaluable cases was 30 months with a mean duration of 18 months. The disease-free survival was 5.5 and 4 months for arm [1] and [2] respectively. The overall median actuarial survival of all evaluable cases was 10.5 months