title: S-1 monotherapy for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Platinum compounds play pivotal roles in treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of S-1 monotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 39 consecutive patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who received S-1 monotherapy after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy at the Shizuoka Cancer Center between August 2003 and October 2010. S-1 was given orally twice daily (80 mg/m(2)/day) for 28 days followed by a 14-day rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up period in survivors was 31.5 months. Among 38 patients with measurable lesions, 9 (24%) showed partial response and 15 (39%) showed stable disease. The median progression-free survival was 4.9 months and the median overall survival was 13.2 months. The median progression-free survival for oropharyngeal cancer (n= 7) was significantly longer than for other cancers (n = 32) (14.9 vs. 4.7 months, P= 0.035). The response rate in patients with a recurrence-free interval since the last platinum administration >6.0 months was significantly better than with a recurrence-free interval <6.0 months (40 vs. 13%, P= 0.0102). Recurrence-free interval >6.0 months also showed a significantly better progression-free survival (6.0 vs. 2.6 months, P= 0.045). The frequency of Grade 3/4 toxicities was less than 10%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S-1 monotherapy shows promising signs of efficacy and tolerability in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy in this retrospective cohort and warrants further investigation in this population.
authors: Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, 1007 Shimonagakubo Nagaizumi Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8777, Japan. t.yokota@scchr.jp
authors: Tomoya
authors: T
authors: Yokota
authors: Yusuke
authors: Y
authors: Onozawa
authors: Narikazu
authors: N
authors: Boku
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Hamauchi
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Tsushima
authors: Hiroya
authors: H
authors: Taniguchi
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Todaka
authors: Nozomu
authors: N
authors: Machida
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Yamazaki
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Fukutomi
authors: Hirofumi
authors: H
authors: Yasui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004338:Drug Combinations; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D005641:Tegafur / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D017671:Platinum Compounds; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid