A PHASE-II STUDY OF CARBOPLATIN IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

This is a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of shor t-course carboplatin in advanced-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Thirty-three previously untreated stage III-IV NPC patients were stud ied. Carboplatin was given as a rapid intravenous injection every 3 we eks. The dose of carboplatin was calculated according to the individua l patient's creatinine clearance and desired platelet nadir of 75,000/ mu l according to the Egorin formula. Response and toxicity were evalu ated. Thirty-two patients were evaluated for response. The median age was 54 years, range 30-70 years. Twenty-four patients had local region al disease and 8 patients had metastatic disease. The median dose of c arboplatin given was 415 mg/m(2) (range 91-791 mg/m(2)). Fourteen (44% ) patients had a partial response with a 95% confidence interval of 26 -62%. Fifteen (47%) patients had stable disease and 3 (9%) progressive disease. The overall median survival rate was not reached at 43 month s. Overall toxicity was tolerable. Grade III-IV myelosuppression occur red in 4 (12%) patients. There were no other major toxicity- or treatm ent-related deaths. We conclude that carboplatin has a significant ant icancer effect in advanced NPC. Thus carboplatin combination chemother apy for the treatment of NPC is worthy of future clinical investigatio ns.