No abstract

366 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated by external irradiation were studied to see whether residual disease at the end of treatment influences control. The frequency of recurrence was found to be significantly greater when residual disease was present. When the total dose was determined by the degree of regression of the primary lesion during treatment rather than the initial tumor volume, recurrence was significantly more frequent. Forcing the dose beyond a level suitable for the original volume of disease failed to prevent recurrence in patients with residual disease, most likely due to the hypoxic state of the remaining tumor cells.

A woman with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus was treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, cisplatin, and prednisone. Rapid tumor response and hyperuricemia occurred within 10 days after the first course of chemotherapy. Mediastinal irradiation was given after two courses of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was continued until the total dose of adriamycin reached 450 mg/m2. The patient is alive and well in remission more than 111 weeks after therapy was begun and more than 63 weeks after treatment was discontinued. Further study of this chemotherapeutic regimen in squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus is needed. Monitoring of serum uric acid levels may be required.