Combination of cis‐platinum, oncovin, and bleomycin (cob) prior to surgery and/or radiotherapy in advanced untreated epidermoid cancer of the head and neck

A prospective study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of two courses of combination therapy with COB every three weeks prior to surgery and/or radiotherapy in 70 patients with advanced untreated epidermoid cancer of the head and neck. Of 65 patients evaluable after two courses of chemotherapy, 16 had a complete remission (CR) and 36 had a partial remission (PR; > 50% -- < 100%) for a total major response rate of 80%. After completion of therapy with surgery and/or radiotherapy, 61% of the responders were still in CR with disease free survival ranging from four to 22 months (median eight plus months), while only 15% of non-responders were in CR. Drug toxicity was tolerable with no severe or life threatening side effects, and no added risks after surgery or radiotherapy were encountered. We concluded the effectiveness and feasibility of COB were established.