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Response to paclitaxel in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands
Author(s) -
Till Brian G.,
Martins Renato G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.20731
Subject(s) - paclitaxel , adenoid cystic carcinoma , medicine , chemotherapy , progressive disease , oncology , carcinoma , head and neck , salivary gland , surgery
Background. Paclitaxel is not considered to be an active drug in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary glands. We report 2 consecutive cases of patients with ACC who responded to paclitaxel. Methods. The patients were: (1) a 58‐year‐old man with recurrent ACC who developed pulmonary metastases, had progressive disease after a good response to first‐line chemotherapy, and then achieved a partial response to weekly single‐ agent paclitaxel; and (2) a 46‐year‐old woman with extensive thoracic ACC metastases who achieved a significant response after 2 cycles of paclitaxel chemotherapy. Results. The first patient died of progressive disease approximately 4 months after completing paclitaxel therapy, and the second patient had disease control after 6 cycles of paclitaxel. Conclusions. Systemic weekly paclitaxel produced a significant response in 2 patients with ACC of the head and neck, and its use in this disease merits further study. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008