Use of methotrexate and 5-FU for recurrent head and neck cancer.
Thirty patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with methotrexate (250 mg/m2) followed 1 hour later by 5-FU (600 mg/m2). One patient had a complete response and four had partial responses, for an overall response rate of 16%. The response rate in patients with no prior chemotherapy was 21%. Toxic effects included neutrophenia in ten patients, with one associated death from infection; severe mucositis in three patients; and severe diarrhea in seven patients. Three patients had acute abdominal pain requiring hospitalization, with one associated death. The combination of methotrexate and 5-FU as given in our study was not superior to methotrexate alone and had substantial toxicity.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced
D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate