Background: In our department, patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)received preoperative chemotherapy containing S-1 to prevent the growth and dissemination of tumors during the waiting time before definitive surgery. We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of this treatment.
Patients and methods: One hundred and five patients comprising stages T1(26), T2(64), T3(7), and T4(8 cases)were enrolled in this study from July 2001 to June 2013. In principle, patients were administered S-1(80mg/m / 2/day, days 1-14)and followed by a drug holiday(days 15-21), continuing until 1 week before surgery.
Results: The median administration period was 14 days(256 days). Ninety-eight patients underwent definitive surgery, but 7 patients who revealed clinical CR underwent only biopsy and showed histological CR. The histological responses of all patients were CR(24), PR(22), and NC(59), and the response rate was 43.8%. Almost all adverse effects were Grade 1 or 2, except 1 case of neutropenia(Grade 3)and 1 case of urticaria(Grade 3). The 5-year overall survival rates were 86.7% in all cases, 95.3% in CR/PR cases, and 79.7% in NC cases.
Conclusion: Preoperative S-1 administration during the waiting time was a safe and very effective method and was considered beneficial for patients with OSCC.