BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy in terms of functional organ preservation of multidrug induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IC–CCRT) protocol in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Patients and methodsPatients with previously untreated, inoperable, histologically proven nonmetastatic stage III or IV HNSCC were eligible. Following one cycle of IC, two cycles of cisplatinum and 5-fluorouracil CCRT with conventional fractionated radiotherapy up to a dose of 66–70 Gy were administrated. ResultsBetween January 2000 and July 2007, a total of 139 patients were candidates to receive IC–CCRT for LA-HNSCC. Overall, 83% of the patients completed the treatment. Three-year overall survival estimate was 68% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57% to 79%]. Three-year progression-free survival (PFS) estimate was 62% (95% CI 50% to 74%). Three-year functional PFS was 57% (95% CI 44% to 69%). There were no cases of treatment-related deaths. The most frequent severe acute toxicity was pharyngeal mucositis. ConclusionsCisplatinum-based multidrug IC–CCRT can result in functional organ preservation and curative treatment in most patients with LA-HNSCC. The toxicity profile and patients’ compliance to treatment confirmed the safety and tolerability of this approach.