Chemotherapy: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Influence of Pathologic Complete Response to Induction Chemotherapy on Long-Term Survival of Patients Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity Tongue

Xin-rui Zhang, Di Wu, Zhi-min Liu, Xue-kui Liu, Quan-Li, Hao Li, Zhu-ming Guo and Zong-yuan Zeng

Objective: To discuss long-term efficacy of preoperative induction chemotherapy (IC) plus surgery � radiotherapy in patients with resectable stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity tongue (SCCOT). Methods: From June 1996 to December 2005, 73 patients with advanced SCCOT were treated with IC followed by surgery � radiotherapy, at the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University. The 5-year overall survival (OS), local control and reasons of treatment failure were analyzed retrospectively. Results: 73 patients aged from 22 to 77 years with untreated, clinical T1?4 N0-2M0 SCCOT underwent IC followed by surgery � radiotherapy. After IC, 17 patients (23.3%) achieved clinical complete response; 44 patients (60.3%) clinical partial response; 12 patients (16.4%) no response or progression, and overall response rate was 89.0% (65/77). On final surgical pathology, 14 patients (19.2%) achieved histological complete response; 59 patients (80.8%) histological incomplete response. The 5-year OS was 59.8%, local control was 69.9% (51/73). No treatment-associated deaths occurred, and toxicity was modest. Conclusion: IC plus surgery � radiotherapy was a treatment modality that was tolerated with encouraging survival outcome in advanced resectable SCCOT patients. Response rate with this regimen was limited, but the responders were associated with excellent prognosis.