Cisplatin alone or in combination with adriamycin in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer relapsed after radiotherapy and/or surgery.

37 evaluable patients with relapsed head and neck cancer received as treatment Cisplatin alone (18 patients) or Cisplatin + Adriamycin (19 patients). Both regimens consisted of three-weeks-interval courses. Cisplatin was administered at a dose of 100 mg/m2 as an i.v. infusion with prehydration, posthydration, mannitol and furosemide. Cisplatin + Adriamycin combination was administered at doses of 50 mg/m2 Cisplatin and 50 mg/m2 Adriamycin, both drugs the same day. Clinical toxicity was mild with both regimens. Overall hematologic toxicity was moderate but it was severe with regard to red cells. Some cases of renal toxicity were observed with Cisplatin regimen while no case was noticed with Cisplatin + Adriamycin combination. An overall response rate of 44% (4 CR + 4 PR) was achieved with Cisplatin protocol. The mean duration of response was 5,5 months. An overall response rate of 53% (3 CR + 7 PR) was achieved with Cisplatin + Adriamycin protocol. The mean duration of response was 2,75 months.