[Intra-arterial cisplatin chemotherapy of epidermoid carcinomas of the oral cavity. Preliminary results].

The chemotherapy schedule used for treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the buccal cavity is described, together with the technique proposed by Richard for introduction of the intra-arterial catheters. Two sessions of intra-arterial infusion lasting 6 days are separated by an treatment-free interval of 6 days. Five patients with oropharyngeal endobuccal epithelioma were treated in this way, two of these cases receiving major surgery during chemotherapy. Analysis of a pelvimandibulectomy operative specimen from one of these patients failed to show any trace of cancer in a lesion which had been initially classified T3N3 by histology. This case, combined with other reports of clinical remission without histologic proof, and after a short follow up, suggests a certain efficacy for cisplatinum intra-arterially. This local efficacy, without however diminishing the surgical target volume, will probably give a better survival rate than when surgery alone is performed.