1979 Volume 32 Issue 4 Pages 509-515
Bleomycin has been shown to have a significant therapeutic effect against squamous cell carcinomas, particularly those of well differentiated type. Through a new therapeutic approach, combining an analog of the bleomycin (NK 631) and irradiation, a synergistic effect against squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity has been achived, yielding the following results:
1) Ten patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity have been treated by the new therapeutic approach combining NK 631 and irradiation.
2) This therapeutic approach was markedly effective in treating well differentiated squamous cell carcinomas.
3) Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity were refractory to this treatment.
4) Pulmonary fibrosis has developed in none of our cases. The side effects, observed included stomatitis occurring in the majority of the cases, and generalized eruptions developing in one case.
5) The combination therapy was scheduled as described below:
i) In the 1st week, application of NK 631, 5 mg at a time, and serial exposure to irradiation with 200 rads at a time were done simultaneously on 5 consecutive days (i.e., 5 times in total from Monday through Friday).
ii) In the second week, application of NK 631 without irradiation was done every other day (3 times) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
iii) In the 3rd week, application of NK 631 was done on a dosage schedule of 5 mg, every other day (3 times) i.e., on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the irradiation, on a dosage schedule of 200 rads, on 5 consecutive days from Monday through Friday.
iv) After a 3-week interruption of the treatment from the 4th to the 6th week for relieving the patient of side effects, the patient was operated on, or placed back on the combination therapy, re-starting on the dosage schedule for the 3 rd week.
