Multicentric phase II study of cisplatin and etoposide in patients with metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of combina tion cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy in patients with metastatic carci noma of unknown primary. Patients were treated with cisplatin (100 mg/m(2) iv day 1) followed by etoposide (100 mg/m(2) iv days 1-3) every 3 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles. Patients with progressive disease after two or four courses could receive FAC (fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide ) until progression. Twenty-five patients were entered and were assessable for response and toxicity. Fifteen (60%) patients had adenocarcinomas. Pati ents received a median of four courses. Toxicity was mainly hematologic inc luding grade III/IV neutropenia. The overall response rate was 32%. There w as no complete response, 32% partial responses, 32% stable disease, and 36% disease progression. Median response duration was 4 months (range: 2-5 mon ths). The median overall survival of the 25 patients was 8 months. No objec tive response could be obtained with FAC, but 33% of patients achieved stab ilization of the disease for at least 3 months. This cisplatin-etoposide co mbination demonstrated some activity against an usually resistant disease.