Treatment of carcinoma of the head and neck with intravenous methotrexate

Abstract

Partial (9 patients) or complete (11 patients) remission occurred in 20 of 35 patients (57%) with epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck treated with high-dose intravenous methotrexate. Weekly doses of 60 mg/sq m injected intravenously were used for periods up to 8 to 12 weeks to induce remission. Remission duration ranged from 23 to 604 days, with a mean of 128 days. The same dose administered at 3- to 4-week intervals served to maintain remission. Moderate toxicity occurred except in patients treated twice weekly at a dose of 40 mg/sq m (5 patients) when intoxication was severe.