Combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra: a case report.

A 68-year-old patient with advanced stage IVB squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra was treated successfully by combined radiation therapy to 5,580 cGy., and chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin. Dramatic response in the size of the tumor was noted and on the last day of treatment there was no definite evidence of persistent disease. No surgery was performed except for urinary diversion. The patient remained without disease for 5.5 years clinically and pathologically. In this case the combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy obviated the need for radical surgery. This clinical behavior is markedly similar to the behavior of anal canal carcinoma when using a similar regimen. Therefore, further clinical investigation for combined modality treatment is warranted.