VAC (vincristine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy for metastatic carcinoma from an unknown primary site

Twenty patients presenting with metastatic carcinoma from an unknown primary site were studied. All patients were treated with a triple chemotherapy regimen of vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide repeated at three-week intervals. The response rate was 50%, and the four patients achieving complete response are alive and disease-free at 13, 16, 36 and 39 months. Toxicity was minimal and the majority of patients' performance status improved with the chemotherapy. VAC chemotherapy is indicated for patients with metastases, particularly of soft tissues originating from a carcinoma from an unknown primary site.