Carboplatin plus taxol is an effective third-line regimen in recurrent undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Recurrent undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a chemosensitive disease. Few third-line treatments have been reported.


METHODS
Twelve patients (9 males, 3 females; median age 50 years, range, 20-62) with recurrent undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with carboplatin AUC 5.5 + paclitaxel (175 mg/m2, 3-hr infusion) on day 1 every 3 weeks. All patients had been previously treated for recurrent disease with a first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy and a second-line therapy with low-dose continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil.


RESULTS
Overall, 54 courses were given (median, 5; range, 2-6). Three patients (25%) obtained a partial response lasting 6, 10 and 26+ months, 1 (8.3%) a minimal response lasting 6 months, and 3 (25%) no change with a median duration of 5 months. The median survival time was 14 months for patients who had a partial or minimal response or no change, and 5 months for nonresponders. Median overall survival was 9.5 months (3-30+). The treatment was well tolerated, and toxicity was manageable.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination has a good palliative role as third-line chemotherapy in recurrent undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer.
Airoldi
Mario
M
Department of Medical Oncology, San Giovanni Antica Sede Hospital, Turin, Italy. mario.airoldi@jumpy.it
Pedani
Fulvia
F
Marchionatti
Sara
S
Gabriele
Anna Maria
AM
Succo
Giovanni
G
Gabriele
Pietro
P
Bumma
Cesare
C
D000328:Adult; 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; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel