title: Phase II study on gemcitabine in recurrent and/or metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck (EORTC 24982).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This phase II study was conducted to determine the antitumour activity of gemcitabine in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with progressive and/or symptomatic, recurrent and/or metastatic ACC were treated with gemcitabine 1250 mg/m(2) intravenous (i.v.) on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. Each cycle was repeated every 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression for a minimum of four cycles and a maximum of 12 cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 21 ACC patients, there were no objective responses. Eleven patients had a stable disease, of which ten patients for more than 6 months, and eight had a progressive disease after 4 cycles. Gemcitabine was well tolerated by most patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that gemcitabine is not an active drug in ACC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology (452), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. C.vanHerpen@onco.umcn.nl
authors.forename: C M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Herpen
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Locati
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogaerts
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacombe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Mulder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awada
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Licitra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vermorken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine