Sequential trials of methotrexate, cisplatin and bleomycin for penile cancer

Methotrexate, bleomycin or cisplatin was used to treat 21 patients with advanced bidimensionally measurable epidermoid carcinoma of the penis. Patient characteristics were similar in all 3 drug trials. Drug therapy was continued with each agent until the disease progressed. Significant tumor regression was observed in 8 of 13 men (61 per cent) treated with methotrexate, 3 of 12 (25 per cent) treated with cisplatin and 3 of 14 (21 per cent) treated with bleomycin. Responders tended to be younger than nonresponders (median age 48 versus 59 years, respectively, p less than 0.05) and lived a median of 8 versus 2 months, respectively (p equals 0.03). Cross-resistance was not encountered among the 3 drugs. Future trials might investigate combination regimens of all 3 agents.