Advanced head and neck cancer treated by combined radiotherapy and VBM cytotoxic regimen--four-year results

Abstract

The 4-year results of treatment of advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck regions by radiotherapy combined with a cytotoxic regimen VBM (Vincristine, Bleomycin, Methotrexate) given synchronously are compared with those obtained with radiotherapy alone in similar patients. There was a statistically significant improvement in the results of the combined treatment at four years in terms of crude survival rate (56.1% v. 24.5%) and disease free survival rate (56.5% v. 21.8%). Both groups are examined for general prognostic features which might account for the difference. In the absence of such features it must be concluded that the addition of VBM to radiotherapy had produced a marked therapeutic improvement.