A phase II study of combination paclitaxel and carboplatin in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) Vol. 34; no. 13; pp. 2027 - 2031
• Main Authors: Yeo, W, Leung, T.W.T, Chan, A.T.C, Chiu, S.K.W, Yu, P, Mok, T.S.K, Johnson, P.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; carboplatin; Carboplatin - administration & dosage; Carboplatin - adverse effects; Chemotherapy; Female; Hematologic Diseases - chemically induced; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; metastatic/recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - secondary; paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Paclitaxel - adverse effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Tropical medicine; metastatic/recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma; paclitaxel; carboplatin; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Drug combination; Carcinoma; Nasopharynx; Malignant tumor; Metastasis; Lymphoepithelioma; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Taxane derivatives; Phase II trial; Paclitaxel; Carboplatin; ENT disease; Advanced stage; Undifferentiated carcinoma; Platinum II Complexes
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/S0959-8049(98)00280-9

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of combination paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy in patients with metastatic and/or locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Patients with metastatic and/or locoregionally advanced NPC were treated with carboplatin calculated according to an AUC of 6
mg
ml/min (based on Calvert formula) given as an intravenous (i.v.) bolus, followed by paclitaxel 135
mg/ml
2 given as an i.v. infusion over 3
h with standard premedication. Cycles were given 3 weekly to a maximum of six. From January 1996 to November 1997, 27 patients were entered and assessable for response and toxicity. A total of 122 cycles were given and the median number of cycles given was five. The overall response rate was 59% (16/27). There were 3 (11%) complete responses, 13 (48%) partial responses, 5 (19%) static disease and 6 (22%) progressive disease. Toxicity was mainly haematological including: grade 3/4 neutropenia (39 cycles, 32%), grade 3/4 anaemia (nine cycles, 7%), grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (eight cycles, 7%). There were three episodes of neutropenic fever (3%). Non-haematological toxicities were mild and infrequent. Paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy is active in NPC and has tolerable toxicity. Further study with dose escalation is required to assess its optimal efficacy.