Improved results in combination chemotherapy of head and neck cancer using a kinetically-based approach: a randomised study with and without adriamycin.

One hundred and seventeen patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were randomised between two combination schedules, one with and the other without adramycin. Responses (more than 50% tumor regression) were 67% overall with 63% responding to the combination without adriamycin and 82% responding to the schedule containing it. The increase in response rate seen with the addition of adriamycin is not statistically significant. Prior radiotherapy reduced the likelihood of response to chemotherapy.