Thirty patients with locally advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with two courses of cis-platinum chemotherapy (50 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). Twenty-three of thirty patients had either partial remission, improvement, or stable disease. Chemotherapy was well tolerated. Follow-up of all patients was done in greater than 36 months. Seven of 23 patients remain in complete remission after chemotherapy plus surgery. Of these seven patients, four of seven were partial responders to chemotherapy, two of seven were improved, and one of seven had stable disease or chemotherapy. Preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy needs further evaluation in head and neck cancer.