Radiochemotherapy with Vinblastine, Methotrexate, and Bleomycin in the treatment of verrucous carcinoma of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether the combined radiochemotherapy with Vinblastine, Methotrexate, and Bleomycin could be an effective alternative treatment to surgery in verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the head and neck.


METHODS
Combined radiochemotherapy was used in 12 patients with previously untreated VC. They were irradiated to equivalent tumor dose of 44-70 Gy (median, 56 Gy) and had > or = 2 courses of concomitant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy regimen consisted of prolonged intravenous infusions of Vinblastine 2 mg (day 1); Methotrexate 50 mg (day 2); Bleomycin 15 mg (days 2 and 3), and repetition at 2-3 week intervals.


RESULTS
Eleven of 12 patients were cured of VC, and one died of purulent meningitis associated with intracranial extension of VC from the oral cavity. Of 11 patients cured of VC, eight had advanced tumors. The median follow-up of cured patients was 3.6 years (range, 1.4-13.6 years). All the patients developed mucositis of grade > or = 3, whereas no serious late side-effects were recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined radiochemotherapy with Vinblastine, Methotrexate, and Bleomycine is highly effective in the treatment of VC of the head and neck. It could be successfully used in the patients with inoperable VC or as an alternative to surgery.
Strojan
Primoz
P
Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. pstrojan@onko-i.si
Soba
Erika
E
Budihna
Marjan
M
Auersperg
Marija
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D001761:Bleomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D008727:Methotrexate