Superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy for laryngeal preservation in carcinoma of the anterior oropharyngeal wall.

Conclusion: Superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy, which can provide local control and laryngeal preservation, is safe and useful for preserving pharyngeal and laryngeal functions.

Objective: To evaluate superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy in terms of the contribution to survival and laryngeal preservation in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anterior oropharyngeal wall.

Methods: A total of 51 patients with SCC of the anterior oropharyngeal wall received intra-arterial administration of docetaxel at 60 mg/m(2) and cisplatin at 60 mg/m(2) anterogradely, followed by intravenous continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil at 750 mg/m(2)/day over 120 h starting on day 2. Neck lymph node metastases were treated by neck dissection.

Results: The 5- and 10-year survival rates of the 51 patients were 72.8% and 66.4%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of patients with T2, T3, T4a, and T4b cancer were 100%, 88.7%, 41.9%, and 33.3%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year laryngeal preservation rates of the 51 patients were 63.4% and 30.0%, respectively. The 5-year laryngeal preservation rates of patients with T2, T3, T4a, and T4b cancer were 100%, 75.2%, 23.6%, and 33.3%, respectively. No irreversible side effects, complications, or sequelae were reported.