© 2007 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
Single-agent Docetaxel in Patients with Platinum-refractory Metastatic or Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
1 Division of Radiation Oncology
2 Gastrointestinal Oncology
3 Head and Neck Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Nagaizumi, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka, Japan
For reprints and all correspondence: Sadamoto Zenda, Division of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan. E-mail: szenda{at}east.ncc.go.jp
Received February 15, 2007; accepted March 5, 2007
Background: The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of single-agent docetaxel in patients with platinum-refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
Methods: Platinum-refractory disease was defined as cancer with documented tumor progression during platinum-based treatment or recurrence within 6 months after platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. Patients fulfilling the following criteria were enrolled: histologically confirmed SCCHN, excluding nasopharyngeal cancer; measurable metastatic lesions as assessed by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST); and platinum-refractory disease. Docetaxel (60 mg/m2) was administered every 3–4 weeks and continued unless there was evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Results: Twenty patients were recruited. Overall response rate was 10% (2/20) and tumor control rate was 25% (5/20). Median progression-free and median overall survival times were 1.7 and 4.6 months, respectively. The most common hematological toxicities were leucopenia (grade 4: 35%) and neutropenia (grade 4: 30%). Grade 3 febrile neutropenia and grade 3 mucositis (functional/symptomatic) each occurred in two patients (10%). One fatal bleeding occurred during this treatment, however, the relation between this event and docetaxel was unlikely. Median inpatient period during treatment was 5.4 days (range, 0–50 days).
Conclusion: A single-agent docetaxel regimen appeared to offer an acceptable clinical profile in patients with platinum-refractory SCCHN.
Key Words: docetaxel • squamous cell carcinoma • head and neck • chemotherapy • platinum refractory
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