[Induction chemotherapy of carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Feasibility study, levels and factors of response to treatment. Apropos of 135 cases].

Induction chemotherapy is now frequently included in therapeutic protocol for carcinoma of oral cavity and oropharynx. Frequency of objective responses and predictive factors for favorable responses to therapy were evaluated in 135 patients. In 45% of cases an objective tumoral regression was noted (with 6% total regression). Combined CDDP-5 FU produced responses in 65% of cases, whereas the combinations of CDDP-BLM-VCR-MTX and of CDDP-BLM-VDS produced values of 35 and 41% respectively. Small tumors (T1, T2) regressed better during chemotherapy than extensive tumors (T3, T4) (16 and 34% respectively). The tumor implantation site was a predictive factor: tumors of the tonsillar region not extending to base of tongue regressed in 74% of cases as against 35% for lesions of base of tongue. In contrast, histologic type and degree of glandular involvement were not important predictive factors. These findings suggest that induction chemotherapy for carcinoma of oropharynx or oral cavity is feasible and that predictive factors of response to treatment are size and site of tumor and type of chemotherapy.