Concurrent chemo radiation with cisplatin and bleomycin versus cisplatin alone in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity: a retrospective study.

Oral cavity cancer constitutes two thirds of locally advanced head and neck cancer in India and majority presents in advanced stage. Despite aggressive treatment disease outcome is poor. The aim of this study is to compare concurrent chemo radiation with cisplatin and bleomycin versus concurrent chemo radiation with cisplatin alone in locally advanced oral cavity cancer. Materials and methods: Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity cancers registered at cancer institute from 2009 – 2011 were included in the study. Patients who were either taken up for initial surgery or treated with radiation therapy alone were excluded from study. Of 515 patients treated with concurrent chemo radiation, 112 � patients were treated with three weekly cisplatin along with biweekly bleomycin and 104 patients were treated with 3 weekly cisplatin alone concurrent with radiation therapy. Results: Among the patient treated with three weekly cisplatin and biweekly bleomycin there is increased two year disease free survival (45.5% versus 35.6%) and two year overall survival(60% versus 45.2%)on comparison with patients treated with three weekly cisplatin alone.(P