A phase II trial of carboplatin in patients with advanced APUD tumors.
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy remains inadequate for patients with carcinoid tumors, islet cell tumors, and medullary carcinomas of the thyroid. Carboplatin has shown activity in oat cell carcinoma of the lung, another tumor of neuroectodermal origin.


METHODS
Forty-two patients with advanced APUD tumors (20 carcinoid tumors, 9 islet cell carcinomas, 5 medullary carcinomas of the thyroid, and 9 neuroendocrine tumors of unknown primary site) were treated with carboplatin in a Phase II study.


RESULTS
Carboplatin was inactive in carcinoid and islet cell tumors, with 0 of 20 and 0 of 9 patients responding, respectively. Of the 41 total patients evaluable for response, only 2 (5%) achieved a partial response. Both of these responding patients had neuroendocrine tumors of unknown primary site. No complete responses were seen. Toxicities were those previously noted with carboplatin, with myelosuppression, particularly thrombocytopenia, being dose limiting.


CONCLUSIONS
Carboplatin is inactive in carcinoid tumors and did not show evidence of activity in islet cell tumors. Further investigations are needed to identify active agents in the treatment of neuroendocrine malignancies.
Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
L
L
Saltz
G
G
Lauwers
J
J
Wiseberg
D
D
Kelsen
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001079:Apudoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D016190:Carboplatin