BACKGROUND This study evaluated the effect of limited surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared to radical surgery in SCC VII (squamous cell cancer) tumor-bearing syngeneic C3H/HeJ mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Mice showing a tumor response to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil therapy were divided into three groups: radical surgery, with a 5 mm margin from the original tumor, group (A); limited surgery of 5 mm margin from the residual tumor, group (B); and very limited surgery with no margin from the residual tumor, group (C). The number of mice was 13 (group A), 12 (group B) and 12 (group C).

RESULTS No recurrence developed except in one mouse in group C. Three mice died in group A, one in group B and one in group C from perioperative complications. By intent-to-treat analysis, the survival was not significantly different among the three groups (p = 0.64), or between group A and B (p = 0.33).

CONCLUSION The outcome of limited surgery was comparable to radical surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the mouse model of head and neck cancer.