[Radiotherapy combined with daily administration of low dose cisplatin for head and neck cancer].

Radiotherapy combined with daily administration of low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) was applied to 12 cases with head and neck cancer. They consisted of 12 carcinomas, occurring in the epipharynx (3 cases), mesopharynx (3), oral cavity (1), larynx (3) and parasinuses (2). The total response rate (CR + PR) was 83.3%. There was a remarkable effect in reducing tumor size, particularly on patients with laryngeal or epipharyngeal carcinoma. Severe mucositis with ulcers as a side effect was seen in eight cases after the irradiation of 20 to 30 Gy. Six of them tolerated a full dose of irradiation, but CDDP administration was stopped except in one case. To continue the CDDP administration in cases having irradiation of over 40 Gy, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of CDDP administration and/or to give post-irradiative hydration with 500 ml saline. When this combination therapy is used as a preoperative treatment, daily administration should be continued. Incidence of nausea or vomiting was not so frequent and they could be easily controlled by a serotonin-antagonist. Leukopenia was not severe.