Relationship between histologic grading of head and neck tumours and regression after chemotherapy

A series of 43 patients with 44 primary head and neck tumours were treated by combined BMV-chemotherapy (bleomycin, methotrexate and vincristine) given before irradiation. The tumour shrinkages were evaluated and related to the histologic grading of the primary biopsy material. No relationship was found between the tumour response and degree of malignancy as evaluated by the histologic grading. The clinical relevance and possible modification of the histologic grading system are discussed.