COMPARISON OF METHOTREXATE AND CISPLATIN FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK REGION - A SOUTHWEST ONCOLOGY GROUP-STUDY

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 69  (6) , 577-581
Abstract
One hundred eligible patients with inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region following prior therapy were randomized to receive i.m. methotrexate (50 patients) or i.v. cisplatin (50 patients). Methotrexate produced a complete plus partial response rate of 16.0% and cisplatin produced a partial response rate of 8.0%, with median durations of response of 18 wk and 8 wk, respectively. The corresponding median survival times were 20 wk and 18 wk. Methotrexate responders survived 60 wk, vs. 17 wk for nonresponders. The corresponding survival times for cisplatin-treated patients were 38 wk and 18 wk. Good pretreatment peformance status had a significantly positive effect on survival (P = 0.04), but prior therapy did not. Toxicity secondary to either agent occurred with the expected frequency. The 2 agents examined showed comparable antitumor activity in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who had not previously received chemotherapy.