title: Multidrug chemotherapy (vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate [VBM]) with radiotherapy in stage III-IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: Thirty-three patients with stage III-IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck previously untreated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy were given a multidrug cytotoxic regimen, VBM (vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate), in combination with radical radiotherapy. Of the 32 evaluable patients, 11 (34.4%) achieved clinical complete response with negative biopsy, 15 (46.8%) achieved partial response, three (9.4%) had no change, and three (9.4%) had disease progression. At 30 months, the actuarial survival rate for complete responders with negative biopsy was 62.2% and the overall survival rate was 30.8%. Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity was moderate, but one patient developed life-threatening mucositis and one patient died due to acute renal failure. Our data do not confirm prior more favorable results obtained with the same treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D008727:Methotrexate