title: Consecutive daily low-dose S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy after radical treatment for squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck cancer.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Consecutive daily low-dose S-1 therapy was less toxic and its efficacy was not inferior to the conventional administration schedule. Consecutive daily low-dose S-1 chemotherapy appears to be a treatment option for patients in whom it is difficult to continue the conventional administration schedule of S-1 due to adverse events.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of consecutive daily low-dose S-1 therapy in an adjuvant setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated 52 patients with absence of local residual tumor, lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis after radical treatment for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. After receiving informed consent from patients, half of the usual dose of S-1 was administered daily for 2 years. The safety, feasibility, and efficacy of this approach were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hematologic toxicity was seen in 51 of 52 patients (98.1%), but grade 3 hematologic toxicity was found in only 2 patients (3.8%). Nonhematologic toxicity was observed in 15 patients (28.8%) and all were grade 1. Forty-three patients (82.7%) were able to complete the chemotherapy for 2 years without dose reduction. The 3-year disease-free survival rate and 3-year survival rate were 82.6% and 94.0%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. furusaka.tohru@nihon-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furusaka
authors.forename: Akane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004338:Drug Combinations; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid