Very-high-dose cisplatin with bleomycin infusion as initial treatment of advanced head and neck cancer Journal Article


Authors: Haines, I.; Bosl, G.; Pfister, D.; Spiro, R.; Gerold, F.; Sessions, R.; Shah, J.; Strong, E.; Vikram, B.; Harrison, L.
Article Title: Very-high-dose cisplatin with bleomycin infusion as initial treatment of advanced head and neck cancer
Abstract: Fifty-one patients with locally advanced squamous cancer of the head and neck (SCHN) were treated with up to three cycles of very-high-dose cisplatin, 187.5 mg/m2 (administered over five days) in hypertonic saline, and bleomycin infusion, 60 U/m2 (administered over five days), prior to definitive local therapy, in an attempt to improve complete remission (CR) and overall response rates. After chemotherapy, patients underwent surgery if the tumor was resectable for cure, (unless the operation involved total laryngectomy), and/or locoregional radiation therapy. Twelve patients (24%) achieved CR and 23 (45%) partial remission (PR) for an overall response rate of 69%. Thirty-nine of the 51 patients are evaluable following chemotherapy and locoregional treatment, and 28 (72%) have achieved disease-free status. Seven of these 28 (25%) have subsequently relapsed. Eleven of the 51 patients (22%) have died at median follow-up of 10+ months (3+ to 24+). Nausea and vomiting (94%) was the most severe acute toxicity. Myelosuppression was mild and nephrotoxicity was effectively prevented by the 3% saline diuresis. Bleomycin was withheld in 12 of 49 (24%) because of deterioration in pulmonary function tests. Ototoxicity in 12 of 49 (25%) and neurotoxicity in 19 of 49 (39%) were the most significant long-term toxicities. Very-high-dose cisplatin and bleomycin in this study was an effective chemotherapy regimen, but not more so than more conventional doses of cisplatin. Toxicity from both drugs was significant.
Keywords: cancer surgery; major clinical study; squamous cell carcinoma; cisplatin; advanced cancer; lung toxicity; nephrotoxicity; bone marrow suppression; radiotherapy; head and neck cancer; bleomycin; human experiment; human
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume: 5
Issue: 10
ISSN: 0732-183X
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 1987-10-01
Start Page: 1594
End Page: 1600
Language: English
DOI: 10.1200/jco.1987.5.10.1594
PUBMED: 2443621
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 5 February 2021 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. David G Pfister
    389 Pfister
  2. Jatin P Shah
    721 Shah
  3. George Bosl
    430 Bosl
  4. Elliot W Strong
    97 Strong
  5. Ronald H Spiro
    105 Spiro
  6. Louis B Harrison
    123 Harrison