title: Triweekly reduced-dose docetaxel combined with cisplatin in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the efficacy and safety of a triweekly reduced-dose docetaxel (60 mg/m(2)) regimen combined with a standard dose of cisplatin in patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with R/M HNSCC were enrolled. All eligible patients received intravenous docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) combined with cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 and then every 3 weeks thereafter. Treatment was continued until disease progression, patient intolerance, or death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 58 patients were enrolled and 41 patients were evaluated. Among the evaluated population, one patient achieved a complete response (2.4%) and nine patients achieved a partial response (22%), resulting in an overall response rate of 24.4%. Furthermore, 17 patients had stable disease (41.5%), which corresponds to a disease control rate of 65.9%. With a median follow-up of 24 months (1-43 months), progression-free survival was 170 days (95% confidence interval 97.9-242.1) and the median overall survival was 265 days (95% confidence interval 89.0-441.0) in evaluable population. The most common toxicities (≥ grade III) were leucopenia (66.7%) and anemia (33.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triweekly reduced-dose docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) combined with cisplatin is effective and feasible for Taiwanese patients with R/M HNSCC. However, the hematologic toxicity of this regimen should be carefully monitored and managed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Peter Mu-Hsin
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Cheng-Hwai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Ming-Huang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chao-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Wu-Chou
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Wei-Shuo
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Yi-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shyue-Yih
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Muh-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin