Response to paclitaxel in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands.

Background: Paclitaxel is not considered to be an active drug in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary glands. We report 2 consecutive cases of patients with ACC who responded to paclitaxel.

Methods: The patients were: (1) a 58-year-old man with recurrent ACC who developed pulmonary metastases, had progressive disease after a good response to first-line chemotherapy, and then achieved a partial response to weekly single- agent paclitaxel; and (2) a 46-year-old woman with extensive thoracic ACC metastases who achieved a significant response after 2 cycles of paclitaxel chemotherapy.

Results: The first patient died of progressive disease approximately 4 months after completing paclitaxel therapy, and the second patient had disease control after 6 cycles of paclitaxel.

Conclusions: Systemic weekly paclitaxel produced a significant response in 2 patients with ACC of the head and neck, and its use in this disease merits further study.