Gemcitabine and docetaxel after failure of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site.
BACKGROUND
The prognosis of patients with carcinoma of unknown primary remains poor with an expected median survival of 6 to 12 months. We evaluated the activity of a chemotherapy regimen combining gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients who primarily failed cisplatin-based chemotherapy.


METHODS
Fifteen patients received cycles of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 8 every 3 weeks.


RESULTS
The median number of cycles per patient was 3. Overall toxicity was moderate. Four partial responses were observed among 14 patients with measurable disease. The median survival was 8 months from start of therapy and 23 months from diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results were obtained in a small series of selected patients and require further confirmation in the front-line management of the disease.
Pouessel
Damien
D
Centre Régional de Lutte contre le Cancer Val d'Aurelle Montpellier, Parc Euromédecine, 34298-Montpellier, France.
Culine
Stephane
S
Becht
Catherine
C
Romieu
Gilles
G
Fabbro
Michel
M
Ychou
Marc
M
Cupissol
Didier
D
Pinguet
Frederic
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D043823:Taxoids; D017211:Treatment Failure; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine