title: [Treatment of disseminated oro-pharyngo-laryngeal epidermoid carcinomas with a combination of methotrexate and bleomycine in small doses].
abstract: In the previously published series of patients with generalized head and neck epidermoid carcinoma, a high dose combination of methotrexate (MTX) (0.4 mg/kg biw. i.v.) and bleomycin (BLM) (30 mg biw. iv) produced an objective remission rate of 60% with a median duration of 9 weeks. The disappointingly short duration of the remissions was tentatively related to the short period of treatment, which was limited to 5 weeks in order to keep the cumulative dosage of BLM below 300 mg. In the present study, covering 26 patients, a lower weekly dose was adopted (BLM 15 mg, MTX 0.6 mg/kg). 13 partial remissions were obtained with a median duration of 26 weeks; in 7 cases there was no evolution, in 6 cases progression of the tumor was registered, and there was one death from hematological toxicity. The major toxicity was leuko- and thrombopenia with one toxic death. Digestive and cutaneous side effects and fever were minor. There were 2 cases of major pulmonary toxicity, one of which was lethal. In conclusion, a combination of MTX and BLM at a relatively low dosage is active in disseminated head and neck carcinoma and appears to be compatible with longer maintenance of palliation in comparison with results obtained at a high dose level.
mesh_terms: D001761:Bleomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D008727:Methotrexate
vernacular_title: Traitement des carcinomes épidermoïdes oro-pharyngo-laryngés disséminés par combinaison de méthotrexate et de bléomycine à petites doses