[Combined CDDP-THP-PEP chemotherapy (PTP therapy) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma--a group study]

A group study of chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, using CDDP, THP and PEP, was carried out on 32 cases at the department of Otolaryngology, University of Tokyo, and 7 affiliated hospitals. The combined chemotherapy, which we call "PTP therapy", consisted of 30 mg/m2 of THP on day 1, 70 mg/m2 of CDDP on day 2, and 5 mg/body/day of PEP on 4 successive days. The overall response rate was 78.1% (CR: 15.6%; PR: 62.5%). No major side effect was observed in any case. PTP therapy is useful in neoadjuvant chemotherapy.