Excellent response to cis-platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or previously untreated advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Twenty-four patients with recurrent and/or locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received cis-platinum-based chemotherapy are reported. Twelve patients with recurrent disease previously treated with radiotherapy received cis-platinum-based chemotherapy. An overall response rate of 67% (8/12) and a complete response (CR) of 25% (3/12) were achieved.

Achievement of superior survival for histologically negative versus histologically positive clinically complete responders to cisplatin combination in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.

In a series of three consecutive pilot studies conducted between 1977 and 1982 at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 191 consecutive patients with previously untreated, locally advanced head and neck cancer were treated with cisplatin (CDDP), vincristine, and bleomycin or CDDP and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion before definite surgery or radiation. A 39% (75/191) rate of complete clinical responses was achieved. Thirty-two of the chemotherapy-induced complete responders underwent radical surgery.