OBJECTIVETo compare the results of different treatment modalities for the advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma and investigate the factors that influence its prognosis.

METHODSNinety-two patients with advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma without distant metastasis, treated in our hospital from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. Survival rate was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate analysis was performed by the Cox Proportional hazard model.

RESULTSThe overall 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 52.40% and 37.23% respectively. There was a significant difference in the overall between the two groups survival rate (chemotherapy only and radiotherapy after induced chemotherapy) and the three groups (operation only, operation after induced chemotherapy, radiotherapy after operation) cTNM stage, operation for the primary lesion and local recurrence were the independent factors that influenced the prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSRisk factors that independently influence the survival of patients with advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma were the local recurrence, cTNM and receiving operation or not for the primary lesion. Operation only or comprehensive therapy including operation could give a better prognosis, but the results of chemotherapy only or radiotherapy after chemotherapy were poor.