Failure of alkylating agents to improve induction chemotherapy of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer.

Background: This prospective semi-randomized study was undertaken to assess the effects and effectiveness of alkylating drugs in a preoperative setting.

Patients And Methods: During a 6-year period preceding February 2000, 80 patients with Stage II-IVa (AJCC 2002) squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity were treated. Thirty patients (Group N) received a combination of bleomycin, vincristine and methotrexate (BVM). In the alkylating group, thirty patients (Group A/M) received BVM and mitolactol (dibromodulcitol), while twenty patients (Group A/C) received BVM and cisplatin. Patients underwent surgery within 3 weeks after chemotherapy. Clinical response rate and tumour-free survival were investigated.

Results: Clinical complete response was 30%-36% (Group N-A). Partial response was 57%-56% (Group N-A). Side-effects were moderate and reversible. Nausea, anaemia and leucopenia were observed in the alkylating (A) group, while other side-effects (alopecia, mucositis, gastritis) were similar in both groups. The observation time was 36 months. Regional disease-free survival showed a significant difference, favouring the non-alkylating (N) group (p=0.03). A higher metastasis rate was observed in the alkylating (A) group.

Conclusion: Cisplatin and mitolactol in combination with BVM showed higher local control and lower disease-free survival than BVM alone. That was mostly due to a higher rate of regional metastatis formation in the alkylating-treated patients. This may be a late side-effect caused by the immunosuppressive and myelosuppressive effect of alkylating agents.