Intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced oral cavity cancer: analysis of therapeutic results in 134 cases

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic results of arterial injection therapy via the superficial temporal artery for 134 cases of stages III and IV ( M0) oral cavity cancer retrospectively, and to clarify the prognostic factors. We administered intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy by continuous infusion of carboplatin in 65 cases from January 1993 to July 2002. Systemic chemotherapy was performed on 26 cases at the same time. We administered intra- arterial chemoradiotherapy by cisplatin with sodium thiosulphate in 69 cases from October 2002 to December 2006. Systemic chemotherapy was performed on 48 cases at the same time. The 3- year local control rate was 68.6% ( T2- 3: 77.9%; T4: 51.3%), and the 3- year survival rate was 53.9% ( stage III: 62.9%; stage IV: 45.3%). Regarding the results of multivariate analysis of survival rates, age ( < 65), selective intra- arterial infusion, and the use of cisplatin as an agent for intra- arterial infusion were significant factors. The therapeutic results of intra- arterial chemoradiotherapy via the superficial temporal artery were not inferior to the results of surgery. In particular, the results of arterial injection therapy by cisplatin with sodium thiosulphate were excellent, so we believe that it will be a new therapy for advanced oral cavity cancer.