Two-Year Experience of Using Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Tumors in a Regional Oncology Center
https://doi.org/10.37174/2587-7593-2026-9-2-64-71
Abstract
Relevance: Despite their relative accessibility to imaging, head and neck tumors are often diagnosed at late stages. Treatment of this pathology presents challenges in choosing a treatment strategy. Intra-arterial chemotherapy is a promising treatment option for these patients.
Purpose: To study the effectiveness of intra-arterial chemotherapy in an oncology clinic and to evaluate the tumor blood supply patterns.
Materials and methods: Between 2024 and 2025, 51 patients with locally advanced head and neck tumors were treated. Of these, 44 had primary tumors and 7 had recurrent tumors or prior systemic chemotherapy. The study evaluated the effectiveness of this method in 44 patients at the Tula Regional Oncology Clinic. All patients received intra-arterial chemotherapy with cisplatin 75 mg/ m², administered proportionally into each tumor-feeding vessel, followed by intravenous docetaxel 75 mg/m². A key feature of the study was the prevalence of stage 4 disease, accounting for 61.4 %.
Results: The treatment achieved an objective response rate of 86.8 %. A complete response was achieved in 31.8 % of cases, and a partial response was achieved in 55 %. No stage 3–4 toxic complications were identified. Furthermore, these tumors were found to have two or more vessels supplying blood in 77.3 % of cases, with bilateral blood supply characteristic of 43.2 %.
Conclusions: Based on the data obtained, it was concluded that the method is highly effective and readily available not only in research institutes but also in regional oncology centers. Furthermore, a predominance of multivessel blood supply was demonstrated in locally advanced tumors.
About the Authors
D. O. Komarov
Tula Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary; Tula State University, Medical Institute
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Daniil O. Komarov
60 Kaluga Highway, Tula, 300039
92 Lenin Ave., Tula, 300012
+ 79036597447
Competing Interests:
Not declared
A. O. Needro
Tula Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Anton O. Needro
60 Kaluga Highway, Tula, 300039
Competing Interests:
Not declared
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For citations:
Komarov D.O., Needro A.O. Two-Year Experience of Using Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Tumors in a Regional Oncology Center. Journal of oncology: diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy. 2026;9(2):64-71. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.37174/2587-7593-2026-9-2-64-71
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