BLEOMYCIN, EPIRUBICIN, CARBOPLATIN (BECA) IN THE TREATMENT OF RECURRENT AND OR METASTATIC SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK/

The aim of this study was to evaluate three active agents, bleomycin ( BLM), epirubicin and carboplatin in a new combination (BECA) in terms of feasibility, activity and toxicity in patients with recurrent and m etastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. From April 199 2 to February 1993 15 pts (12M/3F), median age 53 years, all pretreate d (6 surgery+radiotherapy; 3 radiotherapy+chemotherapy; 6 radiotherapy ), were treated with BLM 15 mg/m(2) days 1-14; epirubicin 30 mg/m(2) d ays 1-14 and carboplatin 300 mg/m(2) day 1 every 28 days. In the 14 ev aluable pts we observed 1 complete response, CR (7.1%), 4 partial resp onses, PR (28.6%), 5 stable disease, SD and 4 disease progression, PD with an overall response of 35.7%. The treatment was globally well tol erated, 1 pt with grade 3 leukopenia and 1 pt with grade 3 thrombocyto penia, 1 pt with grade 3 emesis and 1 pt with grade 3 mucositis. At th e last follow-up the duration of CR was 34 months, the duration of PRs were respectively 22-10-10-7 months, but the SD ranged from 4 to 6 mo nths. The overall median survival was 8 months (3-36), 14 for responde rs and 4 for non-responders. This final report seems to confirm the ac tivity and efficacy of the BECA regimen, suitable for outpatient admin istration with an overall response equal to other more aggressive comb inations.