Phase II trial of taxol in salivary gland malignancies (E1394): a trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.
BACKGROUND
Malignant tumors of the salivary glands make up approximately 5% of head and neck cancers. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) initiated a phase II evaluation of paclitaxel in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic salivary gland malignancies.


METHODS
Chemo-naive patients with histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of salivary gland origin (mucoepidermoid, adenocarcinoma, or adenoid cystic) were eligible. Patients were treated with paclitaxel, 200 mg/m(2) IV, every 21 days for a minimum of four cycles.


RESULTS
Forty-five patients were treated. Eight partial responses were seen among the 31 patients with mucoepidermoid or adenocarcinoma histologic findings for a response rate of 26%. No responses were seen in the adenoid cystic carcinoma group. No significant difference in overall survival was found among these three histologic subgroups.


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel demonstrates moderate activity in salivary gland tumors of mucoepidermoid and adenocarcinoma histology. The poor response rate in adenoid cystic carcinoma is consistent with prior reports in this chemoresistant histologic subtype.
Gilbert
Jill
J
Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Li
Yi
Y
Pinto
Harlan A
HA
Jennings
Timothy
T
Kies
Merrill S
MS
Silverman
Paula
P
Forastiere
Arlene A
AA
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel