[Exclusive chemotherapy in T1-T3N0 cancers of the vocal cord with complete clinical response after neoadjuvant treatment with a cisplatin-fluorouracil combination].

OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of cisplatin-fluorouracil exclusive chemotherapy for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis staged as T1-T3N0 with a complete response after cisplatin-fluorouracil neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the files of 69 patients with a well-differentiated untreated invasive squamous cell carcinoma, staged as T1-T3N0 with a complete response after cisplatin-fluorouracil neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is presented. Actuarial analysis (Kaplan Meier method) of survival and local failure is presented among the group of 25 patients treated with exclusive chemotherapy and the group of 44 patients in whom the local treatment (partial laryngeal surgery or radiation therapy) initially planned was maintained.

RESULTS

Three-year survival and local control estimate was 91.8% and 69.3%, respectively after exclusive chemotherapy and 92.5% and 97.2% if the local treatment was performed as initially planned. Patients with local recurrence after exclusive chemotherapy were always salvaged with partial laryngeal surgery or radiation therapy resulting in an overall 100% local control and laryngeal preservation rate.

CONCLUSION

Exclusive chemotherapy for T1-T3N0 glottic carcinomas with a complete response after cisplatin-fluorouracil neo-adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered especially in patients in whom preservation of voice is of utmost importance.