Alternating combination chemotherapy using cisplatin-bleomycin with sequential methotrexate-5-FU plus leucovorin rescue in patients with head and neck cancer.
Thirty-two patients (only two had previously untreated disease) with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with alternating combination chemotherapy. The regimen consisted of cisplatin (50 mg/m2) and bleomycin (30 units) given iv on Days 1 and 2, alternated with 1 hour of sequential methotrexate (200 mg/m2) and 5-FU (600 mg/m2) given iv, plus oral leucovorin rescue on Day 22. The entire cycle was repeated every 5 weeks (less than or equal to five cycles). Objective tumor regression was obtained in 33% of the 30 evaluable patients, with 13% complete regression. The median duration of response was only 3 months. Evidence of response occurred within one cycle, and was maximal after two cycles. Toxicity was very mild. Alternating combination chemotherapy is not more effective than either combination chemotherapy alone.
L
L
Panasci
D
D
Gravenor
M
M
Black
S
S
Frenkiel
R
R
Margolese
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013997:Time Factors
D001761:Bleomycin; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate