Phase II study of capecitabine (X) as palliative treatment for patients (p) with squamous head and neck cancer (HNC) with locoregional and/or metastatic relapse after previous platinum-based treatment (PBT): An interim analysis

6074 Background: PBT is the standard therapy for HNC and is widely used as first line treatment. Nevertheless the incidence of relapse remains still high. Therefore, new non-platinum drugs need to be asses as second line treatment options. Taking into account the results obtained with X in HNC, we proposed this study to evaluate activity and tolerability of X when used as palliative monotherapy for relapsed HNC p previously treated with PBT. Methods: Patients aged 18–75 years, ECOG PS 0–2, with advanced squamous HNC with locoregional and/or metastatic relapse previously treated with PBT and adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic functions were included. X (1,250 mg/m2 BID) during 14 days was administered every 21 days, for at least 2 cycles. Objective response rate (ORR) was assessed according RECIST criteria and toxicity following NCI-CTC v2 criteria. Results: Sixteen patients with median age 57 years old, all of them male, ECOG 0/1 (33.3% / 66.7%) and with squamous HNC, were analyzed. Twelve p had loca...