Abstract
The significance of desmoplastic response after chemotherapy was studied in 20 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. According to the Oboshi and Shimosato's criteria, the histological effects were rated as Gr. IV in 5 cases, Gr. III in 1 case, Gr. II b in 1 case, Gr. II a in 8 cases and Gr. I in 5 cases. Desmoplastic response around cancer nests was observed in 17 out of the 20 cases (85.0%). There were no obvious correlation between the degree of desmoplastic response and the histological effect. In some cases the whole of viable cancer cell nests was circumscribed by desmoplastic response. In another cases without desmoplastic response cancer cells invaded diffusely into the deepest portion of the tumor. These results suggest that desmoplastic response dose not necessarily occur for repair of the destruction of parenchymal tissue and may act as a defense against cancer invasion. Since tumor localization caused by desmoplastic response is beneficial to the following operation, the mechanism of desmoplastic response after chemotherapy should be further investigated.
