Pilot study of radiotherapy with misonidazole in head and neck cancer

Twenty-nine patients with advanced carcinoma of the upper air and food passages were treated by radiotherapy using a 10-fraction three-week scheme, giving 1.2 g/m2 of misonidazole 4 h before each treatment. Complete tumour regression was observed in 24 of the patients, and at a nine-month follow-up the local tumour control rate is 60%. Sixteen patients developed evidence of peripheral neuropathy. A prospective random controlled trial is recommended to confirm the apparently improved local tumour control from the use of misonidazole in this study.