Paclitaxel and carboplatin for recurrent salivary gland malignancies

Background: The use of chemotherapy for recurrent salivary gland carcinomas is under investigation. Patients and Methods: Fourteen patients (10 males, 4 females; median age 55 years, range 20 -70) with recurrent carcinomas of major (9 patients) and minor (5 patients) salivary gland origin (histology : I adenocarcinoma, 10 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 2 undifferentiated carcino ma, 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma) were treated with carboplatin AUC 5.5 + pac litaxel 175 mg/m(2) (3-hour infusion) on day 1 (interval = 3 weeks). All pa tients had been previously treated with surgery+radiotherapy and 8 with a c isplatin combination. One patient had a local lesion, 7 locoregional recurr ence and metastases and 6 patients had metastases only. Results: Overall 65 courses were given (median 5; range 2-6). Responses were: PR in 2 patients (14%) lasting 5 and 12 months; 7 NC (50%) with a median duration of 8.5 mo nths (5-12); and 5 PD (36%). The median survival time was 13.5 months for P R/NC patients, 6 months for non responders; median overall survival was 12. 5 months (3 - 17+). Conclusion: This combination had a moderate activity; t he treatment was well tolerated and toxicity was manageable.