Response to paclitaxel in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands

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