Cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) in the treatment of advanced nonsquamous cell head and neck cancer.

Sixteen patients with regionally advanced or disseminated nosquamous cell (NSC) head and neck cancer received a monthly combination chemotherapy regimen of cyclophosphamide (C), adriamycin (A), and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (P), or P, as a single agent administered by either bolus or 24-hour infusion technique. Fifteen patients had received extensive prior surgery and/or radiation therapy. Three patients had prior chemotherapy. A response rate of 50% was achieved (8/16); there were 2 complete regressions and 6 partial regressions. The estimated median time to progression (TTP) for the entire group of 16 patients was 6.0 months and the estimated median survival was 14.0 months. Seven of 8 responders have progressed, with a median TTP of 10.7 months. Virtually all patients experienced alopecia as well as nausea and vomiting, which was more pronounced with the bolus administration of P. Myelosuppression was tolerable; there was no clinically significant renal impairment.