[Induction chemotherapy with Cis DDP-5FU in cancers of the upper respiratory and digestive tract after 70 years of age].

Sixty one aged patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract were given a chemotherapy Cis DDP-5 FU before any local treatment. The objective response rate was 77% which included 46% of complete response. Toxic manifestations were more severe than those observed in the general population with the same protocol (nine deaths during the course of the treatment). A few appropriate measures may contribute for the improvement of the therapeutic index: consideration of nutritional and cardiac status, reduction of doses according to age, pharmacokinetic monitoring of 5 FU. An acceptable level of toxicity will be necessary in the design of future, intensive induction trials. The possibility of conservative treatment with a high level of reliability would justify the use of induction chemotherapy in the aged subjects.