Phase II trial of a paclitaxel and carboplatin combination in Asian patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
An earlier phase II trial of paclitaxel in patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) demonstrated a response rate of 22%. Hence we proceeded to study the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin in these patients.


METHODS
The 21-day regimen was as follows: i.v. paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over three hours preceded by standard premedications, followed by i.v. carboplatin dosed at AUC of six infused over one hour. Only chemotherapy-naive patients with histological diagnoses of undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx, systemic metastases and radiologically measurable lesions were eligible.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients were accrued to this study. Twenty patients (62%) had at least two sites of metastasis. The main grade 3-4 toxicity was neutropenia (31%). Nine patients (28%) developed neutropenic sepsis, which caused the demise of one of them. Twenty-four patients (75%) responded to treatment, with one (3%) attaining a complete response. The median time to progression of disease was seven months and the median survival was 12 months. At one year, 52% of the patients were alive.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin is an active regimen in NPC. Its convenience of administration and good tolerability make it an attractive alternative regimen to consider for patients with metastatic disease.
Tan
E H
EH
Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center, c/o Singapore General Hospital.
Khoo
K S
KS
Wee
J
J
Fong
K W
KW
Lee
K S
KS
Lee
K M
KM
Chua
E T
ET
Tan
T
T
Khoo-Tan
H S
HS
Yang
T L
TL
Au
E
E
Tao
M
M
Ong
Y K
YK
Chua
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel