Sequential combination of radio-chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, cis-platinum and irradiation) in the management of locally advanced head and neck cancers.

Thirty-seven previously untreated patients with advanced, inoperable head and neck were treated with a sequential courses combining hypofractionated irradiation with chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and cis-platinum). Each course was repeated every 4 weeks. Tumor response was evaluated and for 15 patients (41%) with a partial or complete regression after 3 radio-chemotherapy courses conventional radiotherapy was added. Eleven percent of all patients were in complete remission at the end of a treatment. This tumor response rate and the 50% rate of pain subside after first course for symptomatic patients contributed for a good palliative effect in the present study. However, the median survival of 7.2 months was considered unsatisfactory.