[Intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer]

There are historically speaking, three methods of intra-arterial infusion for head and neck cancer. Recently, daily concurrent chemoradiotherapy using new superselective intra-arterial infusion via superficial temporal arterial artery is noted. A catheter with a curved tip is inserted superselectively to the feeding artery of the tumor via the superficial temporal artery. Long-term catheterization is possible in this method. Thirty-five patients with stage III or IV oral cancer were treated. Radiotherapy (total dose:40 Gy/4 weeks) and superselective intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy using DOC (total dose: 60 mg/m2, 15 mg/m2/week) and CDDP total dose: 100 mg/m2, 5 mg/m2/day) were concurrently performed daily, followed by surgery. In 31 patients, intra-arterial infusion was successful(successful rate: 88.6%), and no major complication was observed. The clinical effects were CR in 25 patients(80.6%), and pathological effects of resected tumor after surgery were pathological CR in 28 (90.3%). This method promises to be new strategy of choice for the treatment of head and neck cancer.