Biweekly paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma. A phase II trial.
BACKGROUND
Cisplatin is an active drug in head and neck cancer. Paclitaxel seems a promising drug. This article reports a phase II assessment of the combination of the two.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients were treated with paclitaxel 90 mg/m2 over three hours plus cisplatin 60 mg/m2 every other week. Sixteen patients had locoregional disease and seven had metastatic disease. None of the patients had previously been treated with chemotherapy. Nine patients had had radiotherapy to the target lesions.


RESULTS
One patient was not evaluable for response. Partial responses were observed in 32% of evaluable patients. Toxicity included asthenia (56%), neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, anemia and vomiting.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall response rate observed in this study does not seem to justify the use of this chemotherapy regimen in the palliative setting.
Licitra
L
L
Division of Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy. licitra@istitutotumori.mi.it
Capri
G
G
Fulfaro
F
F
Grandi
C
C
Tarenzi
E
E
Cavina
R
R
Gianni
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010166:Palliative Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin