ORIGINAL ARTICLE EFFECTIVE ERADICATION OF ORAL VERRUCOUS CARCINOMA WITH CONTINUOUS INTRAARTERIAL INFUSION CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract: Background. We evaluated the effectiveness of intraarterial methotrexate infusion as a primary therapy for oral verrucous carcinoma (VC). Methods. Fifteen male patients (mean age, 55 years) were included. By using an implantable port-catheter system and a portable pump, methotrexate was continuously infused to the external carotid artery for a mean period of 7.5 days (50 mg/day), followed by weekly bolus of methotrexate (25 mg) via intraarterial route for a mean period of 10 weeks. Results. The tumor regressed dramatically and disappeared completely after treatment within a mean period of 2.5 months. All patients obtained complete remission and recovered without disfigurement. All patients were alive without disease recur-rence at a median follow-up of 43 months. The side effects were tolerable. Conclusions. The results of our treatment modality for oral VC appear to compete favorably with the results of surgical se-ries and even more with those of radiotherapy series. VC 200