Thirty evaluable patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region previously treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy were treated with a combination of methotrexate, vinblastine, epidoxorubicin, and bleomycin as second-line chemotherapy. Besides surgery and/or radiotherapy all patients had previously received chemotherapy as induction therapy or as palliation for recurrent disease. Only 20 % of patients achieved a partial objective response with a mean duration of 5.6 months (range 3.2–6.2), and 30 % of patients had a stabilization of disease with a mean duration of 4.2+ months (range 3.8–6.0). Patients who responded had rhinopharyngeal carcinoma, poorly differentiated histology, or they had not been previously treated with radiotherapy. All remaining patients (50 %) progressed. Toxicity was significant with grade 3–4 leukopenia in 30 % of cases, grade 2–3 mucositis in 40 % of patients, and grade 2–3 vomiting in 43 % of cases. In consideration of the dismal clinical results and of the significant toxicity recorded, we do not recommend to use this combination as second-line therapy in recurrent head and neck cancer. Further chemotherapy should be reserved to carefully selected cases with a reasonably high chance of response.

Keywords:
Head and neck cancer, Second-line chemotherapy, Epidoxorubicin
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
1994
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.