THE TREATMENT OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER BY INTRA-ARTERIAL INFUSION

Abstract

Though chemotherapeutic agents have greatly improved, antitumor drugs play a minor role compared to irradiation or operation in the treatment of malignant diseases. While producing a specific antitumor effect, these drugs show the toxicity on normal structures. For this reason attempts have been made to minimize the systemic toxicity of antitumor drugs on normal tissues and to obtain the maximum concentration in tumor areas. Based on these ideas. Klopp et al (1950) first introduced the intra-arterial administration of cytotoxic agents' We have managed twenty-two patients of the head and neck tumors, undergoing intra-arterial infusion of cyclo-phosphamide (Endoxan) or chromomycin A3 (Toyomycin). The superficial temporal artery or facial artery was catheterized, by inserting polyethylene tube of appropriate size until the tip of the tube was placed in the external carotid stream.The drug was injected continuously through the catheter. The results obtained show that six patients received significant regression and in twelve the tumor regressed partially. The intra-arterial infusion of Endoxan or To-yomycin may prove to be an important adjunct not only in the management of incurable head and neck tumors, but also as a pre-operative therapy for early stages of cancer.