Normal cells and cancer cells can be differentiated clearly during insulin induced
hypoglycaemia because of the difference in number of insulin receptors on cell membrane as
well as the biologic response which insulin modifies. This helps in targeting the chemotherapy
drugs more specifically and effectively inside the cells. Under insulin this occurs in cancer
cells with low doses of chemotherapy drugs with lesser side effects. With this aim we did
this randomised study in advanced head and neck cancer cases comparing low doses of
cisplatin under hypoglycaemia with usual weekly dose of cisplatin along with full dose of
radiotherapy. There was 77.7% complete response and 11.1% partial response in low dose and
90% complete respone in full dose chemotherapy with minimal side effects in low dose arm
and no neurologic or cardiac toxicity was observed in hypoglycaemia arm. Thus we conclude
that the use of low dose chemotherapy is equally effective with minimum side effects when
given under hypoglycaemia.