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Multidrug chemotherapy using bleomycin, methotrexate, and cisplatin combined with radical radiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Zidan J.,
Kuten A.,
Cohen Y.,
Robinson E.
Publication year - 1987
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(19870101)59:1<24::aid-cncr2820590109>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - medicine , bleomycin , cisplatin , head and neck cancer , methotrexate , chemotherapy , radiation therapy , head and neck , oncology , cancer chemotherapy , surgery
Thirty‐one patients with Stage III‐IV head and neck squamous cell cancer were treated by three courses of combination chemotherapy using bleomycin, methotrexate, and cisplatin followed by a radical course of radiation and in two cases by surgery. Of 29 evaluable patients, 4 (14%) achieved complete remission (CR) with chemotherapy and 13 (45%) had a partial response (PR). With the addition of radiotherapy and surgery, the CR rate increased to 72%. At 30 months the actuarial survival of all evaluable patients was 61% and of complete responders, 76%. Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer had an actuarial survival of 80% at 30 months, whereas patients with squamous malignancies at other sites in the head and neck region had an actuarial survival of only 37%. Side effects were tolerable. It is concluded that complete responders to combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy have a survival benefit at 30 months. The combined approach is most effective in nasopharyngeal cancer. Cancer 59:24–26, 1987.