title: Study of escalating doses of paclitaxel plus cisplatin in patients with inoperable head and neck cancer.
abstract: This phase I/II study sought to determine the response rate and toxicity profile of escalating doses of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) when administered with fixed doses of cisplatin with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support in 28 patients with head or neck cancer. The study was designed as a modified dose-finding trial and contained five dose-escalation levels of paclitaxel. Dose level 1 contained seven patients, and doses ranged from 175 to 220 mg/m2; dose level 2, 230 to 250 mg/m2 (five patients); dose level 3, 250 mg/m2 only (four patients); dose level 4, 260 to 280 mg/m2 (six patients); and dose level 5, 280 to 300 mg/m2 (six patients). Dose levels greater than 200 mg/m2 were supported with concomitant granulocyte colony-stimulating support. Paclitaxel was given on day 1 by 3-hour infusion; cisplatin 75 mg/m2 was given on day 2. Courses were given every 3 weeks. All patients were evaluable for toxicity and 27 were evaluable for response. The overall response rate was 77% (10 complete responses, 11 partial responses, four no change, and two disease progression). Over a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 7 to 22 months), 16 patients showed no evidence of disease and three are alive with disease. A dose-effect relationship was found between paclitaxel and peripheral neuropathy. Twenty-seven of 28 patients experienced alopecia, peripheral neuropathy, myalgias, and arthralgias. Most toxicities were grade 1 or 2; the mean duration of symptoms was 7 days. No dose-limiting hematologic toxicity was observed, nor was any significant neutropenia seen in those patients receiving filgrastim. The paclitaxel/cisplatin combination was found to be an effective first-line regimen for patients with head or neck cancer. Although the number of patients in this study was small, no relationship was noted between patient response and disease site.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hitt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hornedo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colomer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brandariz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vicent
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cortés-Funes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin