Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with bone marrow metastasis: positive response to weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy

Intern Med. 2015;54(11):1455-9. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3917. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Abstract

A 51-year-old man with nasopharyngeal carcinoma underwent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, followed by a left cervical lymphadenectomy. Distant metastatic disease was excluded using fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Seven months later, bone marrow metastasis and disseminated intravascular coagulation were diagnosed. The patient received weekly paclitaxel therapy and maintained a good performance status for seven months. During the treatment period, the patient developed no severe organ toxicity except for neutropenia. Weekly paclitaxel may therefore be considered as the treatment of choice in patients with advanced or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma with bone marrow metastasis.

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Carcinoma
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Paclitaxel