BOMM regimen for the treatment of advanced head and neck carcinoma

Eighty patients with Stage III and IV head and neck cancer were treated with a four-drug regimen consisting of bleomycin, vincristine, methotrexate, and mitomycin-C (BOMM regimen). Of 69 patients evaluable for response, 7 complete and 40 partial responses were achieved, with an overall response rate of 68%. The median duration of response was 13 weeks (range 3-41 weeks). Anorexia, lassitude, febrile reactions, and myelosuppression were major side effects. The BOMM regimen produced a response rate significantly better than VCR, BLM, and MTx combination (VBM) which we previously reported with improved response duration. This study demonstrates that the BOMM regimen, which can be administered on an outpatient basis, achieved a response rate comparable to cisplatin-containing regimens. The BOMM regimen may be beneficial to patients with poor general condition and/or marginal renal dysfunction who are in high risk of toxicity-associated cisplatin-containing regimens.