title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine, bleomycin and methotrexate combined with radiotherapy in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: From September 1980 to August 1981, 25 patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were treated at the Centro Oncologico, Trento, by a chemo-radiotherapeutic combination. The treatment protocol consisted of 4-6 courses of VBM (vincristine, bleomycin and methotrexate) followed by conventional radiotherapy (65 Gy). Only to VBM responders (15 patients) were administered 10 cycles of vincristine-methotrexate. At the end of induction chemotherapy an overall response of 60% (12% complete, 48% partial) was obtained. At the end of radiotherapy the responses were 52.5% complete and 35.5% partial, for an overall response of 88%. The overall survival at 60 months was 8%. This combined approach, in spite of the satisfactory immediate local response rate, does not offer advantages for survival in comparison to conventional treatment modalities.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D008727:Methotrexate