PURPOSE: There are few existing reports on the efficacy of second-line chemotherapy in patients with cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of CUP patients linked to a positive response to chemotherapy. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical outcomes of second-line chemotherapy in patients with CUP who had previously been treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients received second-line chemotherapy. Of these patients, 5 (19%) showed an objective response to second-line chemotherapy; 4 of these patients had shown a favorable response to first-line chemotherapy and had a chemotherapy-free interval (CFI) of more than 4.5 months. Among the 8 patients in whom the CFI was more than 4.5 months, 4 (50%) showed an objective response to platinum-based second-line chemotherapy, whereas among the 16 patients with a CFI of less than 4.5 months, only 1 (6%) showed a response to any chemotherapeutic regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The response to second-line chemotherapy in CUP patients who had received platinum-based first-line treatment seemed to be associated with the response to first-line chemotherapy and the CFI. Although it remains unclear whether second-line chemotherapy might contribute to a survival benefit in patients with CUP, patients who show a favorable response to first-line chemotherapy and also a relatively prolonged CFI appear to be likely to benefit from second-line chemotherapy.
PURPOSE: There are few existing reports on the efficacy of second-line chemotherapy in patients with cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of CUP patients linked to a positive response to chemotherapy. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical outcomes of second-line chemotherapy in patients with CUP who had previously been treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients received second-line chemotherapy. Of these patients, 5 (19%) showed an objective response to second-line chemotherapy; 4 of these patients had shown a favorable response to first-line chemotherapy and had a chemotherapy-free interval (CFI) of more than 4.5 months. Among the 8 patients in whom the CFI was more than 4.5 months, 4 (50%) showed an objective response to platinum-based second-line chemotherapy, whereas among the 16 patients with a CFI of less than 4.5 months, only 1 (6%) showed a response to any chemotherapeutic regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The response to second-line chemotherapy in CUP patients who had received platinum-based first-line treatment seemed to be associated with the response to first-line chemotherapy and the CFI. Although it remains unclear whether second-line chemotherapy might contribute to a survival benefit in patients with CUP, patients who show a favorable response to first-line chemotherapy and also a relatively prolonged CFI appear to be likely to benefit from second-line chemotherapy.
Authors: P Therasse; S G Arbuck; E A Eisenhauer; J Wanders; R S Kaplan; L Rubinstein; J Verweij; M Van Glabbeke; A T van Oosterom; M C Christian; S G Gwyther Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2000-02-02 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Gauri R Varadhachary; Dmitri Talantov; Martin N Raber; Christina Meng; Kenneth R Hess; Tim Jatkoe; Renato Lenzi; David R Spigel; Yixin Wang; F Anthony Greco; James L Abbruzzese; John D Hainsworth Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2008-09-20 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: J D Hainsworth; H A Burris; S W Calvert; N T Willcutt; D C Scullin; J Bramham; F A Greco Journal: Cancer Invest Date: 2001 Impact factor: 2.176
Authors: C Massard; J-J Voigt; A Laplanche; S Culine; A Lortholary; R Bugat; C Theodore; F Priou; M-C Kaminsky; T Lesimple; X Pivot; B Coudert; J-Y Douillard; Y Merrouche; K Fizazi Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2007-09-18 Impact factor: 7.640