The combined therapy of carcinoma of the tongue by using bleomycin and radiation

Abstract

The biological effect of bleomycin resembles that of X ray irradiation indicating that the combination of bleomycin and radiotherapy may have a synergistic effect. Ten patients with T 3 or T 4 and N 0 to N 3 (UICC) were treated with bleomycin 150 mg and then followed by radiation compared with 10 patients with the same tumor extent randomized numerically, receiving radiation alone. The result of combined therapy showed 9 of 10 patients or 90% effectiveness on the basis of objective primary tumor response and 5 of 6 patients or 80% on secondary tumor response which were definitely superior to radiation alone. The combined therapy did not improve the survival time. No drug morbidities due to drug toxicity were found. There was no pulmonary complication and not a single case of bone marrow depression was observed.