title: Combination chemotherapy with vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate for advanced head and neck cancers.
abstract: Thirty-three patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with a combination of vincristine, methotrexate, and bleomycin. The regimen was as follows: Day 1, vincristine (2 mg iv) and methotrexate (200 mg/m2 iv over 24 hours); Day 2, bleomycin (15 mg/day by iv infusion for 48 hours). Folinic acid rescue began 36 hours after the start of methotrexate. The regimen was repeated at intervals of 3 weeks. Toxicity was minimal but the overall response rate was only 24% (three complete responses and five partial responses) and the median duration of remission was only 16 weeks overall. The combination of vincristine, methotrexate, and bleomycin in this dosage schedule has a response rate lower than that reported with single-agent treatment of advanced head and neck cancers.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D008727:Methotrexate