[Inoperable cancers of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. Value of chemotherapy: 185 cases].

A series of 185 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck was retrospectively analyzed. Induction chemotherapy was systematically administered. The overall tumour response rate was 38 per cent, and 39 tumours (22.4 per cent) became resectable after chemotherapy. The survival of complete responders was statistically higher than that of non or partial responders. Complete responders treated either by radiation therapy or surgery had similar survivals. Surgery improved the prognosis and reduced the rate of local and regional failures in non responders, including poor responders (less than 50 per cent).