Phase II study on mitoxantrone in adenoid cystic carcinomas of the head and neck

• Published in: Annals of oncology Vol. 7; no. 8; pp. 867 - 869
• Main Authors: Verweij, J., de Mulder, P. H. M, de Graeff, A., Vermorken, J. B., Wildier, J., Kerger, J., Schornagel, J., Cognetti, F., Kirkpatrick, A., Sahmoud, T., Lefebvre, J. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 01.10.1996
• Subjects: adenoid cystic carcinoma; mitoxantrone; phase II study
• ISSN: 0923-7534; 1569-8041
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.annonc.a010770

Background: Based on activity in a case report, mitoxantrone was studied in a phase II study in adenoid cystic carcinoma. Patients and methods: Patients with symptomatic and/or rapidly progressive metastatic or recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma were eligible for this study. They were treated with mitoxantrone given intravenously by bolus injection at a dose of 14 mg/m2, cycles repeated every 3 weeks. Results: Thirty-six chemotherapy-naive patients entered on trial, 4 were ineligible. A median of 6 cycles per patient were given. Leucocytopenia (in 97% of patients) was the most important side effect and tended to be cumulative. Other side effects were mainly mild to moderate and consisted of nausea (62%), vomiting (29%), alopecia (53%) and mucositis (41%). Four of 32 patients had a partial response (12%; 95% CI 4%–29%) lasting 3–13 months, 22 patients (69%) had a stable disease. Conclusions: Mitoxantrone at this dose and schedule has modest activity in adenoid cystic carcinomas.