OBJECTIVE: Although cisplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil is a common first-line regimen for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), there are no standard regimens for refractory or relapsed patients. A study of DXD regimen [cisplatin (D), capecitabine (X) and docetaxel (D)] was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity for patients with refractory or relapsed NPC. METHODS: The regimen was administered as follows: 50 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 50 mg/m(2) cisplatin on day 1 and 800 mg/m² capecitabine on days 1 - 14, repeated every 3 - 4 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled. The overall response and complete remission rate was 46.4 and 21.4%. Median follow-up was 24 months; median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 14.0 and 8.0 months. Five-year OS and PFS rates were 14.8 and 13.3%, respectively. Four patients achieved long-term tumor-free survival (range, 53.8 - 125.3 months). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that Epstein-Barr virus DNA status (p = 0.003) and therapeutic effect (p < 0.001) were significant independent factors for OS and PFS. The main grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (26.6%), anemia (13.3%) and thrombocytopenia (10.0%). There were no chemotherapy-related deaths. CONCLUSION: The DXD regimen appeared to be effective and well tolerated by patients with refractory or relapsed NPC. Further investigation is warranted.
OBJECTIVE: Although cisplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil is a common first-line regimen for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), there are no standard regimens for refractory or relapsed patients. A study of DXD regimen [cisplatin (D), capecitabine (X) and docetaxel (D)] was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity for patients with refractory or relapsed NPC. METHODS: The regimen was administered as follows: 50 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 50 mg/m(2) cisplatin on day 1 and 800 mg/m² capecitabine on days 1 - 14, repeated every 3 - 4 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled. The overall response and complete remission rate was 46.4 and 21.4%. Median follow-up was 24 months; median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 14.0 and 8.0 months. Five-year OS and PFS rates were 14.8 and 13.3%, respectively. Four patients achieved long-term tumor-free survival (range, 53.8 - 125.3 months). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that Epstein-Barr virus DNA status (p = 0.003) and therapeutic effect (p < 0.001) were significant independent factors for OS and PFS. The main grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (26.6%), anemia (13.3%) and thrombocytopenia (10.0%). There were no chemotherapy-related deaths. CONCLUSION: The DXD regimen appeared to be effective and well tolerated by patients with refractory or relapsed NPC. Further investigation is warranted.