title: Alternative bimonthly cycles of doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide, cisplatin with hematopoietic growth factor support in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because carcinomas of unknown primary origin are highly malignant tumors with a bad prognosis (median survival, 6-12 months) and no current optimal therapy, the authors designed a prospective dose-dense chemotherapy regimen with the objective of improving the results observed in patients who receive conventional treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two patients received alternative bimonthly cycles of doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2) with cyclophosphamide 1000 mg/m(2) (AC) and etoposide 300 mg/m(2) with cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) (EP). Cycles were given at 2-week intervals with granulocyte-macrophage-stimulating factor support (5 microg/kg per day) from Day 4 to Day 10. Patients without measurable lesions were included, because the major end point was survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of alternative cycles of AC and EP was 4 cycles (range, 1-12 cycles). An objective response was observed in 24 of 62 patients (39%; 95% confidence interval, 30-48%) with measurable lesions, including 6 patients who achieved a complete response. Among 20 patients with nonmeasurable disease, 9 patients (45%) had no evidence of progressive disease at the end of chemotherapy. The overall median survival of 82 patients was 10 months, with 5 patients surviving clinically disease free at 17 months, 29 months, 45 months, 64 months, and 70 months after the end of treatment. Myelosuppression was the most common toxicity. Two toxic deaths occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using these doses and schedules, a dose-dense chemotherapy regimen did not appear to improve the outcome of patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site. Alternative studies dealing with news drugs will be required.
authors.affiliation: Centre Régional de Lutte Contre le Cancer Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France. stculine@valdorelfnclcc.fr
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Culine
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbro
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ychou
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romieu
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cupissol
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinguet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin