title: Triple therapy for advanced cancer of the head and neck.
abstract: Eighty-two patients with advanced cancer of the head and neck have been treated with sequential administration of methotrexate and cisplatin. Methotrexate was given orally (50 mg/sq m). Cisplatin was given intravenously 24 hours later. Treatment was repeated four times at weekly intervals. This method of administration is based on laboratory evidence, including cell kinetic studies. Forty-three patients were operated on. Those with involved or close surgical margins or with more than one cancerous neck node were also treated with therapeutic postoperative radiation therapy. Twenty-two patients were treated with only radiation therapy. After surgery and/or radiation therapy, patients were randomly selected as to who would receive further chemotherapy or who would be under observation only. Twenty-two patients are still in the early phases of treatment and follow-up, so their conditions could not be evaluated. Early results indicate a 64% response to initial chemotherapy and no increase in operative difficulty, morbidity, or mortality.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D008727:Methotrexate