ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effectiveness and toxicity of ifosfamide(IFO) combined with venorelbine(VRL) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) refractory to platinum based chemotherapy. Methods The chemotherapy protocol consisted of intravenous infusion of IFO at the dose of 1200 mg/m2 from day 1 to day 5 with uroprotection of Mesna in infusion at 0,3,6 hours following initiation of IFO and VRL at the dose of 25 mg/m2 at day 1 and day 5. The protocol was repeated every 3 weeks. All patients received at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Results Among 25 patients enrolled into the study, 2 patients achieved complete remission, 12 patients achieved partial remission with an total remission rate of 56.0 % and 8 patients had stable disease with clinical benefit rate of 88.0 %. 3 patients had disease progression. Median time to progression was 7.1 months(range:2.0～21.0 months) and 1-year survival rate was 55 %. The main toxicities were myelotoxicity and phlebitis. Conclusion The results indicate that IFO combined with VRL in patients with NPC refractory to platinum based chemotherapy has moderate activity ascompany with tolerable toxicities.
ABSTRACT
Purpose:To study the effectiveness and toxicity of venorelbine combined with fluorouracil/leucovorin in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) refractory to platinum based chemotherapy.Methods:The chemotherapy regimen consisted of bimonthly intravenous infusion of venorelbine 25 mg/m 2 plus 2-hour infusion of leucovorin 200 mg/m 2 followed by 48-hour infusion of 5-FU 3.0 g/m 2 using an ambulatory pump. Results:Among 30 patients entered into the study,1 patient achieved complete response,15 patients achieved partial response with an overall response rate of 53.3% and 10 had stable disease with clinical benefit rate of 86.7% respectively. 4 patients had disease progression. Median time to progression was 7 months(range:2.0-20.0 months) and the 1-year survival rate was 51%. The main toxicities were diarrhea and myelotoxicity.Conclusions:The results indicate that venorelbine combined with fluorouracil/leucovorin in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma refractory to platinum based chemotherapy has moderate activity but comparatively mild toxicity.