Numerous treatment concepts for advanced but resectable oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma exist. In this study, we present the 7-year results of a promising treatment with preoperative simultaneous chemoradiation using paclitaxel and carboplatin within a prospective phase II trial comprising 56 patients. After determination of the local tumor extension, chemoradiation was applied for 4 weeks and up to 40 Gy. Following a recovery period of 3–4 weeks, tumor resection was performed within the initially tattooed resection margins, together with a functional modified neck dissection. The median follow-up time was 44.9 ± 19.6 months (range 0.76–87.9). After 7 years, 35 (63.3%) patients were alive and 20 (36.4%) had died. In 2 patients (3.6%), the cause of death was related to treatment. After 7 years, the overall survival rate declined to 63.6%, whereas the local recurrence-free probability was still 84.2%. These results confirm the excellent local control and high survival rates of preoperative radiochemotherapy with the combination of paclitaxel/carboplatin.

Keywords:
Simultaneous preoperative chemoradiotherapy, Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, Head and neck cancer, Oral squamous cell carcinoma
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2008
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