High-dose superselective intra-arterial cisplatin using the Seldinger technique and concomitant radiation therapy for tongue cancer

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of high-dose superselective intra-arterial cisplatin and concomitant radiation therapy for tongue cancer. The subjects consisted of 10 patients with carcinoma of the tongue treated with superselective intra-arterial infusion of high dose cisplatin (100 mg/body) using the Seldinger technique and concomitant delivery of external beam radiotherapy (median total dose, 60 Gy) between 2001 and 2007. Sodium thiosulfate was administered intravenously to provide effective cisplatin neutralization. Nine fresh cases which were UICC2002 stage II-IV (stage II: 2 patients, stage III: 3 patients, stage IV: 4 patients) and a recurrent case were contained. Patients ranged in age from 38-81 years, with a median of 51 years, and included 7 men and 3 women. Median follow up period was 41 months. Three-year overall survival rate was 89%. Two of 4 patients with T4 disease and a recurrent patient had local failure. All most of all patients with T2-3 disease had local control. Three-year disease free rate and local control rate were equally 58%. None of the patients experienced severe acute toxicity. We conclude that the high-dose superselective intra-arterial cisplatin and concomitant radiation therapy provides effective results in organ preservation for patients of tongue cancer with T2-3 disease. (author)