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Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with combined methotrexate and irradiation
Author(s) -
Friedman Milton,
Denarvaes Felix N.,
Daly John F.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197009)26:3<711::aid-cncr2820260332>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - medicine , methotrexate , radiation therapy , head and neck , basal cell , shrinkage , surgery , carcinoma , machine learning , computer science
Nine years' experience with 200 patients is analyzed retrospectively. In 76% of cases, pre‐irradiation methotrexate produced shrinkage in tumor volume ranging in amount from 25% to 90%. However, there was only a minor impact on the cure rate, because, as demonstrated by serial biopsies, the residual tumor retained its reproductive integrity. Study of tumor shrinkage curves tends to corroborate the clinical impression that methotrexate does not enhance radiation effect but acts as an independent agent. Combined therapy has cured some advanced cancers which might not have been cured with irradiation alone.