[The significance of chemotherapy in oral cancer]

Fifty-three patients with postoperative recurrent epidermoid carcinomas of the head and neck were treated with BEAM, DP, MBD and CAP regimens. Complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) were achieved in 9% and 23% of all evaluable patients, respectively. Especially, in patients with oral cancer (17 cases), the response rate was only 23% (CR 0%, PR 23%). From our results, it was concluded that chemotherapy in any form must be palliative for a patient who has received prior unsuccessful radiotherapy or surgery. For previously untreated patients who present with Stage III or IV advanced carcinoma, combination chemotherapy with CDDP, MTX and PEP should be considered as the initial method of treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy and intra-arterial chemotherapy for oral cancer should also be considered. Adjuvant chemotherapy combined with UFT and MTX is indicted to be effective for the prevention of local recurrence and micrometastases, but a further randomized study is necessary to confirm these findings.