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Phase II Study of Concurrent Methotrexate and Bleomycin Chemotherapy¹

Children's Cancer Research Foundation, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Methotrexate and bleomycin are both active in epidermoid tumors. They have different mechanisms of action and different host effects particularly with regard to myelosuppression. The concurrent administration of methotrexate and bleomycin was used in 30 patients with metastatic tumors, primarily epidermoid in type. Ten of 19 patients evaluable for therapeutic response demonstrated objective tumor regression (2 complete and 8 partial) with a median duration of response of 4 months. Bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity occurred in 14% with 1 mortality (25%). Marrow suppression developed in 50% of evaluable patients (10 of 21 WBC <2500/cu mm and 8 of 21 platelets <100,000/cu mm) but no complications were observed. Future modifications of the regimen may substantially improve the therapeutic index over that observed here.

¹ This study carried out at Children's Cancer Research Foundation, Boston, Mass. Supported by Research Grant C-6516 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH.

² To whom reprint requests should be addressed, at Children's Cancer Research Foundation 35 Binney St., Boston, Mass. 02115

Received 3/28/74. Accepted 5/15/74.