Weekly docetaxel in patients with platinum-refractory metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

The objective of the study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of weekly docetaxel in patients with platinum-refractory recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Patients fulfilling the following criteria were enrolled: histologically confirmed SCCHN; documented progressive disease (PD) after platinum-based treatment; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2; measurable disease; not candidates for local therapy. Docetaxel (35 mg/m(2)) was administered for 3 weeks, every 4 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles. A total of 23 patients were treated. All patients were assessable for toxicity and response. The overall response rate was 13.0% (3/23) and disease control rate was 34.7% (8/23). Median progression-free and overall survival (OS) was 9 (95% CI, 7.6-10.4 weeks) and 29 weeks (95% CI, 10.8-47.1 weeks), respectively. Most common hematological toxicities were grade 1-2 anemia (6/23, 26.1%) and nonhematological toxicities were mild and manageable. There was no treatment-related death. Weekly docetaxel regimen had good clinical activity with an acceptable toxicity in patients with platinum-refractory SCCHN.