Abstract

A clinical study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness and feasjbility of one course of induction chemotherapy with cis-platinum, vincriatine, and bleomycin in 40 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Twenty three patients(57.5%) had an objective responses; there were 1 complete response (2.5%) and 22 partial responses(55.0%). Responses to chemotherapy was not significantly influenced by disease stage and there were insufficient numbers for a site-by-site comparison. Drug toxicity was tolerable with no life threatening side effects and no added risks to surgery or radiotherapy were encountered. We concluded the effectiveness and feasibility of induction chemotherapy were estabilished.