title: Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin in advanced salivary gland cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advanced salivary gland cancer is a rare disease that comprises different histopathological tumour types; correspondingly, data on palliative systemic treatment are scarce. Combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (CAP) has been reported to induce a reasonable response rate, although fewer than 100 cases have been described. We conducted a retrospective review of advanced salivary gland cancer patients treated with CAP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen consecutive patients with recurrent, locally advanced, or metastatic progressive salivary gland cancer treated with CAP were identified over a five-year period. The mean age at start of treatment was 53.5 years, and the male/female ratio was 11/4. The most common histological subtypes were adenoid cystic carcinoma and adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS), with the parotid gland as the most frequently affected anatomical site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 60% was achieved, with one complete and eight partial responses and six stable diseases according to RECIST criteria. No patient progressed under treatment. An average of 5.4 treatment cycles were administered; median time to progression after ending CAP was 6.6 months, and median overall survival was 15.1 months. Patients with adenocarcinoma NOS appeared to benefit more than patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, but had a shorter time to progression. Except for neutropenia with neutropenic fever and alopecia, no NCI-CTC grade III or IV toxicity was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective study confirms the clinically meaningful efficacy of CAP in advanced adenocarcinomas NOS of the salivary gland in routine practice, with acceptable safety levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, University Hospitals Leuven, Catholic University Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Debaere
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vander Poorten
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuyts
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hauben
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schoenaers
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schöffski
authors.forename: P M J
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clement
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin