PURPOSE

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).

PATIENTS AND 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.