Unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and its management by combined bleomycin and radiotherapy. A clinical study of the enhanced results.

The interaction between the antibiotic bleomycin and x-radiation has been studied in vitro and in vivo. Tissue culture results appear to reflect in vivo sensitivities correctly. Simultaneous exposure to bleomycin and gamma radiation enhances killing of both sensitive and resistant lines. Data from a pilot study combining bleomycin with conventional radiation for unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the lung suggest that the simultaneous administration of bleomycin (10 mg/m2 intravenously twice weekly) with short-course radiation treatment is well tolerated and without dangerous pulmonary complications. Tumor response was greater in the combined-therapy group (46%) than in radiation-only controls (26%); median survivals were 13 and 6 months, respectively. Unlike previously published data, responders appeared to have a significant survival advantage over nonreponders, suggesting that bleomycin may be slightly effective in inhibiting the development of systemic metastasis, and that it positively enhanced local control of primary disease.