Efficacy and safety of vinorelbine plus cisplatin chemotherapy for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancer of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of vinorelbine plus cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancer of the head and neck.

METHODS

In this single-arm phase II study, patients with recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancer were treated with i.v. vinorelbine (25 mg/m ) on days 1 and 8 plus cisplatin (80 mg/m ) on day 1 every 3 weeks for 4 or 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were also assessed.

RESULTS

Between September 2008 and November 2014, 40 patients with recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancer received vinorelbine plus cisplatin chemotherapy. The objective response rate was 35.0%, including 1 complete response. Median PFS and OS rates were 6.3 months and 16.9 months, respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSION

Administering vinorelbine plus cisplatin chemotherapy to patients with recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancers is safe and effective.