title: Second-line chemotherapy with bleomycin, methotrexate, and vinorelbine (BMV) for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head, neck and esophagus (SCC-HN&E) pretreated with a cisplatin-containing regimen: a phase II study.
abstract: We evaluated the toxicity and activity of bleomycin, methotrexate and vinorelbine (BMV) combination chemotherapy in cisplatin-pretreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head, neck and esophagus (SCC-HN&E) with the aim of identifying a second-line therapy combination and schedule that might offer an improved therapeutic index. BMV (bleomycin 15 I.U., total dose, methotrexate 30 mg/m2, and vinorelbine 30 mg/m2) was administered intravenously every 2 weeks until disease progression, to 26 consecutive patients. Clinical and CT-scan evaluations revealed 7 partial responses (PR) 127%, 95% confidence interval: 9.6%-44.4%], and 13 patients with stable disease (SD) [50%]. The mean progression-free survival for patients who achieved a PR or SD was 6.47 months (range 4-13 months), with 75% of these patients experiencing partial relief of symptoms, mainly pain and dysphagia. BMV, administered second-line in an outpatient setting, has activity similar to that of the taxanes, but with a more acceptable toxicity profile including an absence of alopecia.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Oncologia Medica Falck, Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 1-20162 Milano, Italy. oncologia@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giannetta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gelosa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Secondino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chillura
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siena
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D008727:Methotrexate