Laryngeal preservation in cases of advanced laryngeal cancer treated with platinum based induction chemotherapy before local treatment

In this study we analyse our preliminary results after treating 28 patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer with platinum based induction chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy or surgery. The median age of our patients was 60 (46-75) years and median performance status was 80 (60-100). In 18 of the 28 patients locoregional treatment was radiation therapy with an overall response of 94.4 per cent. After a median follow-up of 26 (15-40) months 39.3 per cent of the whole group of patients are alive and disease-free and six (21.4 per cent) patients are alive and disease-free preserving their larynx. We conclude that although more extensive studies with large groups of patients and longer follow-up is needed to reach definite conclusions, it seems that platinum based induction chemotherapy can be used successfully in locally advanced laryngeal cancer followed by radiotherapy. In those cases who respond well, the patient's larynx is preserved without compromizing the overall survival.