Early recurrence following induction chemotherapy for stage IV head and neck cancers: rationale for additional...

Twenty patients with Stage IV neoplasms of the head and neck were treated with two induction cycles of cis-platinum, bleomycin and methotrexate. Eight of eleven operable patients and five of nine inoperable patients responded prior to surgery and/or radiation, including three CRs. Toxicity was mild. There were two early local recurrences but no systemic metastases among the resectable patients. Perhaps initial therapy should be used to select patients with chemoresponsive tumors who might benefit from additional chemotherapy after surgery.