title: A phase II study of carboplatin and paclitaxel for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the activity and safety of a regimen containing carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients affected by recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. Eligible patients were treated with a 3-week combination of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and carboplatin area under the concentration time curve 5 mg/ml/min for a maximum of four cycles. A total of 27 patients entered the study. One patient (3.7%) had a complete response, whereas six patients (22.2%) obtained a partial response. Stable disease was observed in seven patients (25.9%). The disease control rate was 51.8% (95% confidence interval: 32.0-71.3), whereas overall response rate was 25.9% (95% confidence interval: 11.1-46.3). The median overall survival was 8.0 months (range: 2-27), with a 1-year survival of 30.5%. The median progression-free survival was 1.0 month (range: 0-14). Treatment-related deaths or episodes of neutropenic fever were not registered. Grades 3-4 neutropenia was observed in two patients (7.4%), grades 3-4 anaemia and thrombocytopenia in four (14.8%) and one (3.7%) patients, respectively. Nine patients (33.3%) experienced grades 1-2 and one patient (3.7%) grade 3 peripheral neuropathy. The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is safe and moderately effective for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy. daris.ferrari@ao-sanpaolo.it
authors.forename: Daris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Codecà
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Maria
authors.forename: Samuela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bozzoni
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caldiera
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zonato
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Floriani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel