title: Doxorubicin and methotrexate on a weekly schedule in patients with sarcomas.
abstract: Fifty-five sarcoma patients with advanced measurable disease were treated with a doxorubicin and methotrexate combination in which both drugs were given on a weekly schedule. Patients received doxorubicin and methotrexate at three prospectively evaluated treatment levels with doxorubicin dosage ranging from 0.5 to 0.725 mg/kg/week and methotrexate dosage ranging from 0.25 to 0.375 mg/kg/week. Objective responses were seen in 11 of 39 (28%) patients receiving the two higher doxorubicin-methotrexate treatment levels where doxorubicin dose was greater than 0.5 mg/kg/week compared to only 2 of 16 (12%) patients receiving lower doxorubicin levels (p less than 0.05), suggestive of a dose-response relationship. Toxicity of this regimen was manageable but stomatitis was appreciable, seen in 30% of patients. These results support the activity of weekly doxorubicin in sarcoma therapy. However, no apparent improvement was associated with addition of conventional dose methotrexate to weekly doxorubicin treatment.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008080:Liposarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000188:drug therapy; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D008727:Methotrexate