Paclitaxel plus carboplatin or cisplatin for patients with advanccd head and ncck cancer / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose:To study the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel in the treatment of patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Methods:51 patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳadvanced head and neck cancer were enrolled, including l9 patients who had no prior chemotherapy, 32 patients who had recurrent head and neck cancer after surgery and/or radiation therapy, and then had become resistant after about two cycles of chemotherapy with fluorouracil plus cisplatin. Three to six cycles of chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus carboplatin or cisplatin were administered paclitaxel 75-l00mg/m2, qd. d 1?d 8?d 15 plus carboplatin 300-350 mg/m2, qd. d 2 (or cisplatin 20 mg/m2,qd. d 1-5 ), q 4 wk.Results:The total response rate in 51 patents was 19 (37.2%), with 4 (7.8%) complete response, 15 (29.4%) partial respond, l8(35.3%) stable disease and 14 (27.4%) progression. Major toxicities were neutropenia, GI tract reactions and alopecia. One patient had allergic shock and patient died at the beginning of the second cycle of chemotherapy. Conclusions:Paclitaxel is efficient in treating the advanced head and neck cancer. Except for rare cases of allergy, major toxic effects can be tore rated by the patients.