A phase II trial of docetaxel and cisplatin combination in patients with locally advanced undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type (UCNT): Study update

Abstract

5579 Background: The standard treatment of locally advanced undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type (UCNT) is cisplatin based chemotherapy followed by locoregional radiotherapy. The purpose of this study is to assess the antitumor activity and toxicity of a new neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen combining docetaxel (D) and cisplatin (C). Patients and Methods: Previously untreated patients (pts) with histologically diagnosed locally advanced UCNT (Stages IVa and IVb TNM/UICC 1997) received D 75 mg/m2 and C 75 mg/m2 both on day 1, cycles were repeated every 21 days. Every pts received three cycles in a neoadjuvant setting before radiotherapy (4 to 6 weeks after the third cycle of DC). Pts were evaluated by clinical examination, CT scan of nasopharynx and nasofibroscopy with biopsy. Primary end point was tumor response. Secondary end points were disease free survival (DFS), toxicity and overall survival. Results: 75 pts were enrolled in this trial, 54 males and 21 females with a median age of 41 years (range 18–69), WHO performance status of 0–1 in 71 pts and 2 in 4 pts. 19 pts had stage IVa and 56 pts had stage IVb. Toxicity, tumor response and survival over tree years were assessable in 75 pts. After 225 cycles, grade 3 & 4 toxicity (NCI-CTC 2.0) were: neutropenia (12%), febrile neutropenia (2%), anemia (1%), nausea and vomiting (23%), diarrhea (8%), mucositis (1%), reversible alopecia (70%). Two pts had onycolysis. Response rates for the 75 pts were: complete pathologic response 37% (28 pts), partial response 52% (39 pts), stable disease 8% (6 pts) and progression 3% (2 pts). The overall response rate was 89%. 74 pts (98%) had complete response after radiotherapy and one patient had stable disease. 31 patients had recurrence: 25 locoregional, and 6 metastatic (3 with bone metastasis, 2 hepatic metastasis and 1 cerebral metastasis). DFS and overall survival at 3 years were respectively 57% and 65%. Conclusion: DC chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy is an effective regimen for the treatment of advanced UCNT. This treatment has an acceptable safety profile. These data need to be compared to concurrent chemoradiotherapy to assess the best strategy for the management of advanced UCNT. [Table: see text]