New induction chemotherapy using intra-arterial infusion for tongue squamous cell carcinoma to avoid reconstructive surgery: A 6 case reports.

Most tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) classified as T3 require reconstructive surgery, which inevitably causes problems with oral functions. We propose new induction chemotherapy using intra-arterial infusion for TSCC classified as T3 to avoid reconstructive surgery. This chemotherapy regimen consists of intra-arterial infusion of docetaxel and cisplatin and systemic administration of 5-fluorouracil. As a result of this treatment, the therapeutic effect was a complete response in five patients and a partial response in one patient, and the overall response rate was 100%. All six patients underwent partial resection because their tumors shrank with this induction chemotherapy. In addition, adverse events of grade 3 or more did not occur in all six patients. The median follow-up duration for all patients was 34 months, and they are alive. This intra-arterial chemotherapy regimen was shown to be highly efficacious and safe.