Background & objective: It was reported that inductive chemotherapy play an important rolc in malignant tumors of head and neck. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the inductive chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced tongue cancer.
Methods: Eighty-three cases with advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma were treated in our hospital from Jun 1989 to Dec 1995, divided two groups. Thirty-two cases were treated by surgery alone, and fifty-one cases were treated by surgery with preoperation, inducting chemotherapy including twenty-seven cases treated by bleomycinA5 alone, thirteen cases treated by combination chemotherapy(DDP, 5-FU, BLM), and eleven cases treated by lingual artery chemoembolization.
Results: Three and five-year survival rates in surgery group and multidisciplinary management group were 50%, 46.7% and 60.6%, 50% respectively. Their recurrence rates were 31.3% and 39.2% respectively.
Conclusions: Combined management of advanced tongue cancer could not prolong the three and five years survival time, but it could increase loco-regional tumor control rate and prolong the disease-free survival and improve the quality of life.