Combination chemotherapy including 5FU and carboplatin (CBDCA) with methotrexate (MTX) and leucovorin (LV) as biochemical modulation was performed on patients with head and neck cancer. A total of 32 patients were treated in the order of MTX, continuous 5FU infusion and LV injection, CBDCA. 24 of the 32 patients were concurrently treated with radiation therapy. Treatment-associated toxicity was significant, including mucositis, myelosuppression and body weight losses, but they were within acceptable limits. The 5-year survival rates calculated using Kaplan-Meyer methods were 41.3%.
