title: Outpatient oral chemotherapy with S-1 for unresectable or distant metastatic head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of S-1 chemotherapy for unresectable or distant metastatic head and neck cancer. S-1 is an oral anticancer agent containing a combination of 2 modulators and tegafur, which is a pro-drug of 5-fluorouracil.
  
  
  METHODS
  S-1 was orally administered to 27 patients with unresectable and/or distant metastatic head and neck cancer at a dose based on the patient's body surface area in an outpatient setting. S-1 was administered for either 14 or 28 consecutive days followed by a 7- or 14-day rest period, respectively. We investigated the response rate, the cumulative survival rate and the time-to-progression for these patients with adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 11.1% (three out of the 27 cases: one case of a complete response and two cases of a partial response). The cumulative survival rate of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (n=18) was 7/18 (38.9%) and 4/18 (22.2%) at 12 and 24 months, respectively, with a median survival time of eight months. Most adverse events were mild (up to grade 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S-1 therapy is a useful, effective anticancer treatment for unresectable or distant metastatic head and neck cancer, with relatively mild side-effects, and can be administered while maintaining the quality of life of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Defense Medical College of Japan, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8513, Japan. tkym@ndmc.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mayuka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunobu
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomifuji
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiotani
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004338:Drug Combinations; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid
keywords: S-1; metastasis; outpatient oral chemotherapy; unresectable head and neck cancer