Hyaluronidase as additive to induction chemotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Forty-eight patients with advanced head and neck tumours were treated with irradiation and concomitant chemotherapy with cisplatin, vindesine and hyaluronidase. The disease-free survival rate at 5 years was 47%. The toxic effects were mucositis (48 patients), nausea (25 patients, vomiting in six patients), bone marrow depression (15 patients) and peripheral neuropathy (14 patients). The results warrant a randomized trial.