title: Gemcitabine and cisplatin in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a pilot study.
abstract: A pilot study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and cisplatin combination in the treatment of patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Eligible patients were those with metastatic NPC who had been treated with radiotherapy and cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. Cisplatin was given intravenously at the fixed dose of 30 mg/m2 on days 1-3. Gemcitabine was intravenously administered over 30 min infusion with the dose escalated from 800 to 1200 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8. The 3-week schedule defined a cycle of treatment. Fifteen patients were enrolled and assessed for the worst toxicities. For a total of 83 cycles, Grade 3-4 toxicity was 46.7 % for neutropenia, 40.0 % for thrombocytopenia, and 20.0% for anemia. Grade 3 nonhematologic toxicity was 13.3%. Fourteen patients were assessable for response. The overall response rate was 92.9%, with complete response in three patients (21.4%). Median survival was 10.2 months. Seven patients had lived more than one year, and two patients had lived more than 2 years. The recommended dose of gemcitabine was 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 in each cycle. In conclusion, the present combination is well tolerated and highly active in the treatment of advanced NPC patients.
authors.affiliation: Center of Biotherapy for Cancer and Cancer Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China. jiangyu@csco.org.cn
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yu-quan
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Li-qun
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Ji-yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Mei-juan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qiu-ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine