Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma of the Head and Neck is the commonest cancer at our centre and the majority were in locally advanced inoperable stage (stage III and IV) where surgery and/or radiotherapy were able to cure less than 10% of the patients. This study was conducted to determine the role of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in these cases and to bring locally advanced inoperable disease within perview of surgery and/ or curative radiotherapy. A total of 32 patients found inoperable or unsuitable for curative radiotherapy were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Cisplatinum, 5FU, Bleomycin and Hydroxyurea × 3 cycles) followed by surgery and or radiotherapy. All the patients were evaluable for response. An objective response rate following neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 81% (28% CR, 53% PR). Subsequent surgery or radiotherapy were able to have 56.25% (18/32) of patients disease free at 4 years with overall survival 46.8% at 4 years. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy along with radiotherapy and/or surgery might be an effective protocol in controlling advanced inoperable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Published Version
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