Combination of mitomycin, vindesine, and cisplatin in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Thirty patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with a combination of mitomycin (10 mg/m2, Day 1), vindesine (3 mg/m2, Days 1 and 8), and cisplatin (60 mg/m2, Day 1), repeated every 28 days. Seven patients were previously treated by surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, and 23 had untreated advanced tumors. Objective responses were seen in 17 of 27 evaluable patients (63%), with three (11%) complete remissions. Moderate myelosuppression was the main toxic effect. Considering the advanced tumor staging (54% N3 tumors), this chemotherapeutic regimen appears as effective as other cisplatin-based chemotherapies.