Intra-arterial mitomycin C and intravenous bleomycin as induction chemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer--a phase II study

Radiother Oncol. 1986 Sep;7(1):37-45. doi: 10.1016/s0167-8140(86)80123-2.

Abstract

Fifty-six patients with previously untreated, unresectable squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region were treated with repeated intra-arterial chemotherapy with mitomycin C using a selective or super-selective angiographic technique, and bleomycin given i.v., followed by radical radiotherapy. In addition, restricted tumour-reductive surgery was done in 18 of these patients. The response rate (CR + PR) after completion of the integrated treatment was 89%, with 63% of the patients showing CR. The toxicity of this regimen was, however, far from negligible. The median survival for this series of patients with advanced head and neck cancers is 19 months, and 17 are still alive after 16 + -66 + months.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Evaluation
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intra-Arterial
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitomycin
  • Mitomycins / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Mitomycins
  • Bleomycin
  • Mitomycin