fects the head and neck region and nary Results of a European Oris usually grayish blue. Treatments The author reviews the issue of ganization for Research and have included serial excision, liqwhether in vitro radiosensitivity of Treatment of Cancer Phase III uid nitrogen, skin grafting, tissue normal skin fibroblasts can predict Trial. JL Lefebvre, D Chevalier, B expansion, Q-switched laser, and the likelihood of late complications Luboinski, A Kirkpatrick, L Colcarbon dioxide alone and skin abrafollowing radiotherapy. Data are lette, T Sahmoud, J Natl Cancer sion alone. These authors report on presented that establish a relation- Inst 1996;88:890-899. their long-term experience with 37 ship between fibroblast radiosensipatients affected by nevus Ota who The authors present a prospective tivity and the severity of late conwere treated with a combination of trial conducted by the EORTC in nective tissue sequalae. However, the last two methods noted. Folwhich 202 patients with advanced the precision and reproducibility of low-up data were available on 24 squamous cell carcinoma of the pyr-such assays are inadequate for routine clinical use. Although the iform sinus were randomized to un-patients; 22 of these had excellent dergo total laryngectomy and par-mean of multiple duplicate assays (n ฯญ 6) to good (n ฯญ 10) results. tial pharyngectomy followed by tends to be more accurate than a The darker the lesion, the less repostoperative irradiation or induc-single assay, it is logistically impossponsive the nevus. A complete detion chemotherapy with 5-FU and sible to obtain multiple assays and scription of the method, color phocisplatin followed by definitive ra-deliver radiotherapy in a timely tos, and appropriate precautions diotherapy in complete responders.
manner. Nevertheless, because of for the use of the combined method One hundred ninety-four of 202 pa-the potential benefit of a fast, preare presented. A very nice review tients were eligible; median follow-cise measure of individual radiosenof the disease process and bibliograup was 51 months. Treatment was sitivity, the author recommends phy are also included in the article. completed as planned in 95% of that the search for such an assay those randomized to initial surgery continue.