Herceptin in patients with advanced or metastatic salivary gland carcinomas. A phase II study

Phase II study of Herceptin (Trastuzumab) in patients with advanced salivary gland tumors overexpressing Her2/neu. Patients with advanced, incurable salivary gland tumors and 2(+) or 3(+) Her2/neu expression in their tumors were enrolled in the study. After an initial dose of 4 mg/kg, patients received 2 mg/kg weekly. Patients were treated until they experienced progression of disease or unacceptable toxicity. The study was closed early when it has become clear that the majority of tumors screened did not overexpress Her2/neu. Fourteen patients were enrolled in the study. A total of 86 cycles of Herceptin were delivered with a median of three cycles per patient (range 1-40). Median time to progression was 4.2 months. One patient with metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma has received 40 cycles of Herceptin to date with a documented partial response. Herceptin given as a single agent has a low activity in salivary gland tumors overexpressing Her2/neu. New agents are still needed.