title: Response to paclitaxel in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paclitaxel is not considered to be an active drug in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary glands. We report 2 consecutive cases of patients with ACC who responded to paclitaxel.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were: (1) a 58-year-old man with recurrent ACC who developed pulmonary metastases, had progressive disease after a good response to first-line chemotherapy, and then achieved a partial response to weekly single- agent paclitaxel; and (2) a 46-year-old woman with extensive thoracic ACC metastases who achieved a significant response after 2 cycles of paclitaxel chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first patient died of progressive disease approximately 4 months after completing paclitaxel therapy, and the second patient had disease control after 6 cycles of paclitaxel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systemic weekly paclitaxel produced a significant response in 2 patients with ACC of the head and neck, and its use in this disease merits further study.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N., D3-190, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. tillb@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Till
authors.forename: Renato G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011859:Radiography; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel