Cell kinetic aspects of chemoradiotherapy in laryngeal and pharyngeal carcinomas

Chemoradiotherapy is an established method in the therapeutic management of incurable laryngeal and pharyngeal carcinomas or recurrences. On principle two different schedules of chemoradiotherapy are available: (1) the synchronization therapy (irradiation subsequent to a subtoxic dose of 5-fluorouracil) and (2) the combined treatment with bleomycine and X-rays. The results of cell kinetic studies which have fundamentally contributed to our knowledge and understanding of these therapeutic schedules are discussed and the clinical results are demonstrated. The conclusion is drawn that the chemoradiotherapy cannot and shall not substitute the proved methods of surgery and radiotherapy. But in hopeless cases it lengthens the survival time and diminishes the excruciating pain of the tumor patient.