Paclitaxel and carboplatin for recurrent salivary gland malignancies.
BACKGROUND
The use of chemotherapy for recurrent salivary gland carcinomas is under investigation.


METHODS
Fourteen patients (10 males, 4 females; median age 55 years, range 20-70) with recurrent carcinomas of major (9 patients) and minor (5 patients) salivary gland origin (histology: 1 adenocarcinoma, 10 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 2 undifferentiated carcinoma, 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma) were treated with carboplatin AUC 5.5 + paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (3-hour infusion) on day 1 (interval = 3 weeks). All patients had been previously treated with surgery + radiotherapy and 8 with a cisplatin combination. One patient had a local lesion, 7 locoregional recurrence and metastases and 6 patients had metastases only.


RESULTS
Overall 65 courses were given (median 5; range 2-6). Responses were: PR in 2 patients (14%) lasting 5 and 12 months; 7 NC (50%) with a median duration of 8.5 months (5-12); and 5 PD (36%). The median survival time was 13.5 months for PR/NC patients, 6 months for non responders; median overall survival was 12.5 months (3-17+).


CONCLUSIONS
This combination had a moderate activity; the treatment was well tolerated and toxicity was manageable.
Department of Medical Oncology, San Giovanni Antica Sede Hospital, Via Cavour 31, 10123 Torino, Italy.
M
M
Airoldi
G
G
Fornari
F
F
Pedani
S
S
Marchionatti
P
P
Gabriele
G
G
Succo
C
C
Bumma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel