EFFECTIVENESS OF PACLITAXEL AND CARBOPLATIN COMBINATION IN HEAVILY PRETREATED PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCERS

A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the activity of paclitaxel and carboplatin in advanced head and neck cancer. Twenty-four patients with measurable locoregional squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic d isease were entered. All had been heavily pretreated with radiotherapy , surgery and chemotherapy and were at second recurrence or disease pr ogression when they entered the trial. Patients received Paclitaxel 20 0 mg/m(2) with carboplatin 7 AUC once every 3 weeks with premedication with dexamethasone and diphenyldramine and ranitidine. Twenty-three p atients were evaluable for response. Four patients (17%) achieved a co mplete response and 5 (22%) a partial response for an overall response rate of 39%. Duration of response was 3-9 months. Toxicity was tolera ble. Four patients showed Grade III (WHO) and 6 Grade II neutropenia. Nineteen (79%) of patients who received more than two courses Of chemo therapy presented neurotoxicity. The combination of paclitaxel and car boplatin was effective in heavily pretreated patients with squamous ce ll carcinoma of the head and neck. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.