Outpatient chemotherapy with S-1 for recurrent head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study evaluates the efficacy and safety of S-1 chemotherapy or S-1 followed by low-dose docetaxel chemotherapy for recurrent head and neck cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS S-1 was administered to 21 patients with recurrent head and neck cancer, in outpatient settings. Of these 21 patients, 8 were additionally administered a low dose of docetaxel fortnightly. RESULTS The survival rate of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was 59.1% for 12 months and 17.5% for 24 months, with a median survival time of 18 months. Time to progression of more than 12 months was shown by 4 patients (22.2%). Most adverse events were mild (up to grade 2). CONCLUSION S-1 therapy is considered a safe and effective treatment option. From the viewpoint of tumour dormancy, S-1 therapy is a useful vigorous anticancer treatment that can be provided while maintaining patients' quality of life in recurrent cases.