High efficacy of concomitant treatment of undifferentiated (anaplastic) thyroid cancer with radiation and docetaxel.
BACKGROUND
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare but aggressive solid tumor with a very short survival time even with multimodality treatment. In view of in vitro data and the high rate of p53 mutations in ATC, we have used combined treatment with external beam radiation and docetaxel.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to analyze the activity using radiation plus docetaxel.


METHODS
The design was a retrospective analysis.


METHODS
The study was performed in a referral center of a university hospital.


METHODS
A total of six patients with ATC were treated at our institution.


METHODS
Treatment consisted of standard external beam radiation of 60.0 Gy in 30 fractions along with docetaxel at a flat dose of 100 mg absolute every 3 wk for a total of six cycles starting within the first week of radiation.


METHODS
The outcome measure included clinical response and survival.


RESULTS
Five patients completed radiochemotherapy. One patient has completed radiation but is still on treatment with docetaxel. Four patients achieved complete remission and two partial response. During radiation therapy, four patients developed severe mucositis/stomatitis and two dermatitis, necessitating hospitalization. Two patients developed pneumonia and one urinary tract infection. All patients were hospitalized for a median of 17 d (range, 4-40 d) because of toxicites. After a median follow up of 21.5 months (range, 2-40 months), five patients are alive.


CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary data suggest that the combination of radiation and concomitant docetaxel is highly effective in patients with ATC. However, a formal phase II study is needed to assess the therapeutic potential of this combination.
Troch
Marlene
M
Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Oncology and Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1010 Vienna, Austria.
Koperek
Oskar
O
Scheuba
Christian
C
Dieckmann
Karin
K
Hoffmann
Martha
M
Niederle
Bruno
B
Raderer
Markus
M
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel