Paclitaxel in the treatment of patients with angiosarcoma of the scalp or face

BACKGROUND. Angiosarcomas are rare tumors. Based on a complete response obs erved in a patient with angiosarcoma of the scalp treated with paclitaxel i n a Phase II trial, the authors treated a cohort of patients with angiosarc oma of the scalp or face with paclitaxel as single agent. METHODS. The authors identified nine patients with angiosarcoma of the scal p or face treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with paclitaxel between January 1992 and December 1998. Various paclitaxel schedules were used over 1, 3, and 24 hours. RESULTS. Of the 9 patients, 8 had major responses (4 partial responses and 4 clinical complete responses) and 1 had a minor response, for a major resp onse rate of 89%. The median duration of response was 5 months (range, 2-13 months). Neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy were the most frequent dose -limiting toxicities. No deaths were attributed to therapy. CONCLUSIONS. Paclitaxel as a single agent has substantial activity against angiosarcoma of the scalp or face, even in patients previously treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Further investigation is warranted to d efine the optimal treatment dose and schedule. Cancel 1999;86:2034-7, (C) 1 999 American Cancer Society.