title: Fixed-dose every-other-week capecitabine and oxaliplatin for refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To maximize the palliative benefits of capecitabine and oxaliplatin for patients with refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received fixed-dose capecitabine (1500 mg orally twice a day) on days 1 to 7 and oxaliplatin (85 mg/m) days 1 and 14.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients with refractory SCCHN were enrolled. All patients had relapsed after surgery and had failed radiation therapy. Eighty-seven percent (13) had progressed after chemotherapy. The most common toxicities were grades 1 or 2 fatigue and anemia. There was a 13% partial response rate and 33% stable disease rate for a clinical benefit of 46% by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fixed-dose capecitabine and oxaliplatin combination on an every-other-week schedule showed activity in refractory SCCHN. The simplicity and toxicity profile of this regimen compares favorably with other commonly used chemotherapies and should be tested in larger studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, J.G. Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. g0rabi01@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rabinowits
authors.forename: Leela
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bhupalam
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Goetz H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kloecker
authors.forename: Damian A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Laber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010166:Palliative Care; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil