[Continuous ambulatory chemotherapy in cancer of the upper respiratory and digestive tract]

Chemotherapy of the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts is currently based on Cis-platinum-5 FU administered by continuous infusions which, up until 1985, were performed in hospital during a 4 days admission. These infusions can now be administered on an outpatient basis over a period of 6 days. More than 600 patients have been treated in this way. The improvement in the results observed on a population of 86 operable patients confirms the value of prolonged continuous infusions. The clinical and psychological acceptability of this method, which allows the patient to maintain his autonomy and sometimes his occupation, is an important advance which could promote extension of this approach, particularly in view of its economic advantages.