BLEOMYCIN IN ADVANCED SQUAMOUS‐CELL CARCINOMA OF HEAD AND NECK

Bleomycin, an antibiotic derived from a Streptomyces strain, has been used as a cytotoxic drug in 16 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. It has had some worthwhile effect in four of these patients, whose histories are described. There was a minimum of clinically evident side effects, but in five patients out of eight studied, objective evidence of lung damage was obtained. The possible role of bleomycin in combination with other forms of treatment is suggested.