Paclitaxel Combined with 5-Fluorouracil Continuous Infusion for Treatment of Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of Paclitaxel combined with Leucovorin/5-Fluorouracil continuous infusion in the patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods The patients with a histologic diagnosis of NPC were eligible.The chemotherapy regimen was comprised of paclitaxel 150 mg/m 2 infusion for 3 hours,leucovorin 200 mg/m 2 infusion for 2 hours followed by 10 minute intravenous bolus of 5-Fu 375 mg/m 2,then 48 hours infusion of 5-Fu 3.0 g/m 2 with an ambulatory pump,repeated every 3 weeks.All patients were received at least two cycles of the treatment.Results Twenty patients were enrolled into this study.After two cycles of chemotherapy,3 obtained complete remission(CR)(15.0%),10 obtained partial remission(PR)(50.0%),4 had stable disease(SD)(20.0%).The major toxicity included neutropenia,nausea vomiting arthralgia,myalgia and mucositis.All patients were pretreated with dexamethasone,diphenhydramine and ranitidine.No severe hypersensitivity reaction was observed,no treatment-related death occurred.Conclusion The study indicated that paclitaxel combined with leucovorin/5-Fluorouracil continuous infusion for treatment of advanced NPC had moderate activity and comparatively mild toxicity.Further clinical investigation should be warranted.