Combination of 5-fluoro-uracil and Co60 irradiation in the treatment of carcinoma of the oro-facial region

During the years from 1974 to 1977, 30 patients were treated for carcinoma of the oro-facial region with a combination of 5-fluoro-uracil and telecobalt under the care of the Institute of Radiotherapy, Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Recklinghausen. 13 of these patients were inoperable and had primary irradiation therapy, and the remaining 17 patients were irradiated postoperatively. The main effect that treatment showed was a rapid response in the inoperable tumors, while the 4- to 5-year survival rates of 1:13 of the inoperable cases and 6:17 of the operated patients are in accordance with generally accepted results. The possible radio-biologic relation to this is discussed. (author)