Journal of Chemotherapy Vol. 9 - n. 1 (72-76) - 1997 © E.I.F.T. srl - Firenze ISSN 1120-009X INTRODUCTION Of the solid tumors, squamous cell head and neck cancer (SCCHN) is unusually sensi- tive to chemotherapy. Even in patients with recurrent or metastatic disease, a significant response rate has been noted with a large num- ber of single agents. Therefore chemotherapy is considered standard practice in the treatment of these patients. However, only a few of these patients are cured. The best response rates vary between 25% and 40%, with a median Bleomycin, Epirubicin, Carboplatin (BECA) in the Treatment of Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck V. ADAMO - R. MAISANO 1 - S. PERGOLIZZI 1 - G. ALTAVILLA - N. CARISTI G. CHIOFALO 1 - A. SCIMONE 1 - N. SETTINERI 1 Institute of Oncology and Research on Cancer of the University of Messina, 1 National Institute for Research on Cancer, Messina Section, Italy. Correspondence: Dr. Vincenzo Adamo, Istituto di Oncologia, Università di Messina, C/da Papardo Sperone, 98158 Messina, Italy. Fax: +39.90.392426. Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate three active agents, bleomycin (BLM), epirubicin and carboplatin in a new combination (BECA) in terms of feasibility, activity and toxicity in patients with recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. From April 1992 to February 1993 15 pts (12M/3F), median age 53 years, all pretreated (6 surgery+radiotherapy; 3 radiotherapy+chemotherapy; 6 radiotherapy), were treated with BLM 15 mg/m 2 days 1-14; epirubicin 30 mg/m 2 days 1-14 and carboplatin 300 mg/m 2 day 1 every 28 days. In the 14 evaluable pts we observed 1 complete response, CR (7.1%), 4 partial responses, PR (28.6%), 5 stable disease, SD and 4 disease progression, PD with an overall response of 35.7%. The treatment was globally well tolerated, 1 pt with grade 3 leukopenia and 1 pt with grade 3 thrombocytopenia, 1 pt with grade 3 emesis and 1 pt with grade 3 mucositis. At the last follow-up the duration of CR was 34 months, the duration of PRs were respectively 22-10-10-7 months, but the SD ranged from 4 to 6 months. The overall median survival was 8 months (3-36), 14 for responders and 4 for non-responders. This final report seems to confirm the activity and efficacy of the BECA regimen, suitable for outpatient administration with an overall response equal to other more aggressive combinations. Key words: Head and neck, squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic, bleomycin, epirubicin, carboplatin. REPRINT