title: Radiochemotherapy with Vinblastine, Methotrexate, and Bleomycin in the treatment of verrucous carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. pstrojan@onko-i.si
authors.forename: Primoz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strojan
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soba
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budihna
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Auersperg
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D008727:Methotrexate