Epirubicin in patients with advanced or recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase II study of the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Cooperative Group

Imatinib Mesylate in Patients With Adenoid Cystic Cancers of the Salivary Glands Expressing c-kit: A Princess Margaret Hospital Phase II Consortium Study

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the antitumor activity of imatinib in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary gland expressing c-kit. A high level of c-kit expression has been identified in more than 90% of ACCs. Imatinib specifically inhibits autophosphorylation of the bcr-abl, platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta, and c-kit tyrosine kinases.

Patients and Methods

In a single-arm, two-stage, phase II clinical trial, adult patients with unresectable or metastatic ACC measurable by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group criteria and expressing c-kit by immunohistochemistry were treated with imatinib 400 mg orally bid. Response was assessed every 8 weeks.

Results

Sixteen patients have been enrolled onto the study; 10 were female. Median age was 47 years (range, 31 to 69 years). Median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 1 (range, 0 to 2). Fourteen patients had lung metastases, 14 had prior radiotherapy, and six had prior chemotherapy. Toxicities occurring in at least 50% of patients included fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, edema, dyspnea, and/or headache, usually of mild to moderate severity. In 15 patients assessable for response, no objective responses have been observed. Nine patients had stable disease as best response. Six patients had progressive disease after two cycles.

Conclusion

Because of the lack of activity, the study has been stopped after the first stage and additional evaluation of imatinib in this population is not warranted. Overexpression of wild-type c-kit was not sufficient for clinical benefit from imatinib in ACC. Accrual to this study was rapid for a relatively rare cancer, encouraging additional efforts to identify more effective systemic therapy for these patients.

Management of primary malignant epithelial parotid tumors

Parotid cancers are infrequently encountered. These tumors carry a prolonged risk of recurrence and metastasis. Controversies surrounding pre-treatment evaluation by imaging and fine needle aspiration, utility of operative frozen section are partly resolved. Though surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, radiation is being recognized as a useful adjuvant. Facial nerve preservation is one of the important goals at surgery. The role of chemotherapy is still investigational. The prognosis and necessity of elective neck treatment are mainly guided by the tumor grade and stage.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx: a case report]

Nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare tumor, few cases have been reported in the literature. The aim of this report is to present a new case of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx. We report the case of a 50 years-old woman presenting with an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx with diffuse pulmonary metastasis. The treatment combined chemotherapy, based on cisplatin and adriamycin drugs, and palliative radiation therapy at the dose of 30 Gy. The patient died 6 months after diagnosis establishment. The best treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma is complete surgical resection but extended resection can be difficult in some locations as nasopharynx. The adjuvant radiation therapy seems to improve local control.

Primary high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the minor salivary glands with cutaneous metastases at diagnosis

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) represents 15% of all salivary glands malignancies. Metastatic disease at diagnosis is observed in less than 5% of the cases. The lung is the most commonly involved site. This is the first reported case of high-grade MEC of the salivary gland with skin metastases at diagnosis. This feature was associated with a chemoresistant and aggressive behaviour. Differential diagnosis between metastatic MEC and primary skin MEC is essential for therapeutic management and prognosis.

From chemoprevention and organ preservation programmes to postoperative management: major achievements and strategies of the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Group

The purpose of this article is to review the most significant results of the clinical studies conducted in the past two decades by the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Group (HNCG). As for phase III trials, the HNCG investigated, besides the efficacy of chemopreventive drugs, the impact of cytostatic agents on various therapeutic targets, in combination or not with surgery and chemotherapy. These targets were: (a) chemo-prevention in curatively treated early stage disease; (b) organ preservation programmes in patients with operable tumour, comparing immediate surgery versus first-line chemotherapy; (c) postoperative management of locally advanced tumours, comparing radio-chemotherapy versus radiotherapy alone. Other phase II and phase III studies were also completed to investigate drug activity in advanced and/or recurrent head and neck squamous cell and adenoid cystic carcinomas. The present article will also analyse the strategies developed within the Group in the field of translational research.

Phase II study on mitoxantrone in adenoid cystic carcinomas of the head and neck. EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Cooperative Group

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.

CONCLUSION

Mitoxantrone at this dose and schedule has modest activity in adenoid cystic carcinomas.

Cisplatin, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in advanced salivary gland carcinoma. A phase II trial of 22 patients

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the activity of CAP regimen in advanced salivary gland carcinomas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-two patients with advanced salivary gland carcinomas were treated according to the CAP regimen. All patients were previously treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Seven patients had local or locoregional disease, nine patients had local and metastatic disease, six patients had metastatic disease only. The most common histologies were included.

RESULTS

Of 22 patients, six achieved a partial response (27%, 95% CI: 11%-50%): no complete response was observed. Response duration ranged between 3 and 13 months (median seven months). The median survival time for the entire series was 21 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In this investigation, on 22 consecutive patients, CAP combination provided an overall response rate of 27%. This study confirms that, at present, available drugs yield poor results, either as single agents or as combination therapy.

Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Salivary Glands: Case Reports and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is an uncommon tumor of the salivary gland. Little has been published on the chemotherapy of this neoplasm. METHODS: The literature on this disease is reviewed, and data from seven unpublished cases are presented. RESULTS: Four patients received cyclophosphamide. One responded, and another had pain relief. The literature review did not identify any single drug or combination that might be regarded as the treatment of choice. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic, multi-institutional studies are required to determine appropriate systemic treatment for metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin.