Multidrug chemotherapy (vincristine-bleomycin-methotrexate) followed by radiotherapy in inoperable carcinomas of the head and neck: preliminary report of a pilot study of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(80)90228-X· OSTI ID:7029358

Marcial, V A; Velez-Garcia, E; Figueroa-Valles, N R; Cintron, J; Vallecillo, L A

This is a preliminary report on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) pilot study 77-08, of a combination of chemotherapy with vincristine-bleomycin-methotrexate, followed by radiotherapy, for inoperable carcinomas of the head and neck. The main objectives of the study were to determine toxicity and tumor control. Patients who were included had untreated carcinomas, with no distant metastases, and with adequate pulmonary, renal, and liver function. Forty patients were registered for the study. Chemotherapy started with vincristine--1.5 mgs/m/sup 2/ (maximum of 2 mgs) by I.V. injection, followed by bleomycin drip for 48 hours (15 units/day), and then methotrexate (200 mgs/m/sup 2/ divided in equal doses 6 hours apart) with folinic acid rescue. Eleven patients received one course of the stated chemotherapy; 28 were given two courses with one week rest period between them. Radical curative radiotherapy was started usually two weeks after chemotherapy. A surgical procedure was considered if the patient was found operable after receiving a dose of 5000 rad with continuous therapy or at 3000 rad with split-course therapy. The level of toxicity that resulted from this combined therapy was considered acceptable. The percentage of complete response of the primary tumor was 6% with chemotherapy; this increased to 46% after irradiation, and to 65% when surgery was added.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan
• OSTI ID: 7029358
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 6:6; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALOIDS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIMETABOLITES
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLEOMYCIN
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARCINOMAS
CHEMOTHERAPY
DISEASES
DOSES
DRUGS
EDEMA
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
HEAD
IRRADIATION
METHOTREXATE
NECK
NEOPLASMS
ONCOVIN
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
SIDE EFFECTS
SKIN
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
TOXICITY