[Radiotherapy combined with daily administration of low-dose cisplatin for squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck].

The effects of radiotherapy combined with daily administration of low-dose cisplatin (CD DP) and radiotherapy alone for squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck were compared clinically and histologically. There was no difference in the response rate between two groups with and without CDDP for pre-operative irradiation (30-40 Gy). However, the complete response rate in the radical irradiation group (60-70 Gy) with CDDP was significantly higher than without CDDP. In the histologic effect assessed by the classification of Shimozato in 9 of 19 patients undergoing radical irradiation with CDDP, 3 patients in this group showed a grade III effect, and the other 6 a grade IV effect. Only 5 of 11 patients having irradiation alone showed grade III or IV effect. In conclusion, full-dose radiotherapy combined with CDDP provided a high level of organ preservation and local control because of the high clinical and histological complete response rate at the primary site.