Combined therapy in advanced head and neck cancer: a randomized study.

Abstract

The randomization of 155 patients with advanced head and neck carcinomas into 5 subgroups related to the site of origin resulted in 2 comparable groups suitable for study. One group was treated with external radiation alone, the second group was treated with external radiation plus concomitant systemic 5-FU. The improved cure rate and average survival of the entire group was statistically significant; however, the tabulated results indicated that the better results in the combination treated group were present in the lesions originating in the oral cavity or oropharynx. All of these lesions were squamous cell carcinomas.The 106 lesions which were randomized in these 2 areas demonstrated an impressive advantage for the combination therapy.Reactions to therapy with the combination group are slightly more severe but are certainly within tolerable limits. We have not demonstrated a greater long-term number of complications.The results of the study indicate a need for a similar cooperative study in an effort t...