In this multi-institutional prospective study, the scientists from Sun Yat-sen University aim to assess the safety and efficacy of nedaplatin plus S-1 (NS) chemotherapy for patients with recurrent and metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) when platinum-containing regimens failed.

A total of 52 recurrent and metastatic NPC patients who previously received, but failed with platinum-containing chemotherapy, had oral S-1 chemotherapy (twice daily from the first day to the fourteenth day) and nedaplatin (80 mg/ m2, day 1) every 3 weeks. The body surface area (BSA) decided the dose of S-1: 40 mg twice a day when BSA < 1.25 m² ; 50 mg twice daily when 1.25 m²   BSA < 1.5 m² ; and 60 mg twice daily when BSA  1.5 m² .

Treatment is well tolerated. The main hematological adverse event is neutropenia. Five patients (9.6%) have grade 3 neutropenia. Three patients are found with grade 3 anemia (5.8%). One patient is found with grade 3 thrombocytopenia (1.9%). No patient is found with grade 3 or 4 nonhematological toxicity. The rates of complete response, partial response and overall response are 3.8%, 38.5% and 42.3%, respectively. Median time to progression is 6.2 months and median survival was 14.6 months. The rates of 1-year survival and 2-year survival are 63% and 27%, respectively.They have the conclusions that NS chemotherapy provides a satisfactory and safe clinical activity for patients with recurrent and metastatic NPC after platinum-containing chemotherapy failed.

(SOURCE: Oncology)