Chemotherapy for adenocystic carcinoma

Seventeen patients with adenocystic carcinoma have received 34 adequate trials of chemotherapy at Princess Margaret Hospital since 1969. There have been five objective responses to chemotherapy in 4 cases, lasting from five to 24 months, and 3 other patients have had stabilized disease for a period of five to seven months. Responding and stabilized patients all had symptomatic improvement. Most responses were to 5-fluorouracil, the preferred drug for initial treatment of metastatic disease or locoregional disease that cannot be controlled by means of surgery or radiation therapy.