Results of a randomised phase II study comparing docetaxel with methotrexate in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer.
We report the results of a randomised phase II trial of docetaxel tested as a single agent in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer using methotrexate as a control arm to validate the results. Eligibility criteria included: histologically-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, measurable disease, adequate haematological, renal and hepatic functions, no prior chemotherapy for recurrent cancer, signed informed consent. 40 mg/m2 methotrexate was given as a short weekly bolus i.v. injection, and 40 mg/m2 docetaxel was administered as a one hour weekly infusion. A total of 57 patients were randomised based on a ratio of 2/1:37 and 20 patients received docetaxel and methotrexate, respectively. Patient characteristics included 49 males and 8 females; the median age was 59 years (range: 43-82 years). Twenty-eight patients had a local-regional relapse and 29 had distant metastasis, the median disease-free interval was 7.9 months (range: 0-165 months). For patients treated with docetaxel, the following grade 3-4 toxicities occurred: neutropenia (12.5%) with febrile neutropenia in one patient (1%), anaemia (19%) mucositis (9%) and ungueal toxicity (9%). In the methotrexate arm, the grade 3-4 toxicities were: anaemia (15%) and mucositis (5%). The response rate was significantly higher in the docetaxel arm with 27% (95% confidence interval (CI): 21.7-32.3%) of objective responses versus 15% (95% CI: 11.2-18.8%) in the methotrexate arm. Overall survival and time to progression were super-imposable between the docetaxel and methotrexate treatments. Docetaxel given as a weekly infusion has a high activity in patients with head and neck cancer. A phase III trial is needed to test if this translates into a survival benefit for docetaxel use.
Guardiola
E
E
CHU Jean Minjoz, Service Oncologie Medicale, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
Peyrade
F
F
Chaigneau
L
L
Cupissol
D
D
Tchiknavorian
X
X
Bompas
E
E
Madroszyk
A
A
Ronchin
P
P
Schneider
M
M
Bleuze
J P
JP
Blay
J Y
JY
Pivot
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D008727:Methotrexate