title: Capecitabine monotherapy for recurrent and metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Capecitabine monotherapy had activity in recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) as demonstrated previously in a small pilot study. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received capecitabine for recurrent and metastatic NPC to further evaluate its clinical benefits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with recurrent and metastatic NPC received capecitabine at a dose of 1-1.25 G/m(2) twice daily for 14 days in 3-week cycles. Disease sites were locoregional in 29%, distant in 45% and locoregional plus distant in 26%. All except one had prior platinum-based chemotherapy for relapse or as adjunctive treatment. Median follow-up was 10 months (range: 3-41).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment was generally well tolerated. Hand-foot syndrome was common and occurred in 86% (25% Grade 3). Grade 3 hematological toxicity occurred in 6%. Partial response rate was 31% (95% CI: 18%, 44%) and complete response rate was 6% (95% CI: 0%, 13%), for an overall response rate of 37% (95% CI: 23%, 50%). Median time-to-progression was 5 months and median survival was 14 months. One- and two-year survival rates were 54 and 26%, respectively. Significantly better survival was observed in patients treated for locoregional recurrence and those with severe hand-foot syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capecitabine has single agent activity in NPC and severe hand-foot syndrome predicts favorable outcome. Based on our experience, capecitabine monotherapy should be considered in patients with recurrent/metastatic NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, PB-115, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China. dttchua@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: William I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jonathan S T
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sham
authors.forename: Gordon K H
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Au
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil