The authors report the results of a multicentric randomised trial assessing the effects on survival of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin (100 mg/m2, D1) and fluorouracil (1 g/m2, D2-4) delivered before regional treatment in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of hypopharynx and base of tongue. 133 patients were enrolled in the study, and 121 were included in the analysis, 64 in group A (regional treatment alone) and 27 in group B (chemotherapy followed by regional treatment). Despite a high objective response rate to chemotherapy (primary tumour: 85%, 24% complete; nodes: 63%), overall survival was not significantly higher in group B than in group A.