Phase II study on mitoxantrone in adenoid cystic carcinomas of the head and neck. EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Cooperative Group.
BACKGROUND
Based on activity in a case report, mitoxantrone was studied in a phase II study in adenoid cystic carcinoma.


METHODS
Patients with symptomatic and/or rapidly progressive metastatic or recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma were eligible for this study. They were treated with mitoxantrone given intravenously by bolus injection at a dose of 14 mg/m2, cycles repeated every 3 weeks.


RESULTS
Thirty-six chemotherapy-naive patients entered on trial, 4 were ineligible. A median of 6 cycles per patient were given. Leucocytopenia (in 97% of patients) was the most important side effect and tended to be cumulative. Other side effects were mainly mild to moderate and consisted of nausea (62%), vomiting (29%), alopecia (53%) and mucositis (41%). Four of 32 patients had a partial response (12%; 95% CI 4%-29%) lasting 3-13 months, 22 patients (69%) had a stable disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Mitoxantrone at this dose and schedule has modest activity in adenoid cystic carcinomas.
Verweij
J
J
Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Cancer Institute (Daniel den Hoed Kliniek), The Netherlands.
de Mulder
P H
PH
de Graeff
A
A
Vermorken
J B
JB
Wildiers
J
J
Kerger
J
J
Schornagel
J
J
Cognetti
F
F
Kirkpatrick
A
A
Sahmoud
T
T
Lefebvre
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008942:Mitoxantrone