[Docetaxel (TXT) and irinotecan (CPT-11) as a second-line chemotherapy for platinum-pretreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck].

Cisplatin(CDDP), combined with 5-fluorouracil, is considered one of the most active chemotherapeutic combinations in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCCHN)and is accepted today as a standard regimen. But second-line chemotherapy for platinum-pretreated patients has not yet been established. Eighteen patients with recurrent SCCHN were treated using docetaxel (TXT) and irinotecan (CPT-11). All of them had been pretreated with platinum included regimen. In principle, our regimen consisted of TXT(50-60 mg/m(2), day 1) and CPT-11(60-90 mg/m(2), day 1, 8, 15). The adverse events were significant, including 13(72.2%)of grade 3 and 4 neutropenia, but acceptable. Seventeen patients were eligible for evaluation of response. Two complete responses (CR; 11.8%)and 6 partial responses (PR; 35.3%)were observed with an overall response rate of 47.1%. Patients pretreated with TXT had a 25.0% response rate (1 PR and 3 progressive disease). We conclude that the combination of TXT and CPT-11 is a worthwhile treatment for platinum-pretreated SCCHN as a 2nd-line-chemotherapy.