A phase II trial of docetaxel and cisplatin combination in patients with locally advanced undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx: updated results

5551 Background: The standard treatment of locally advanced undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type (UCNT) is cisplatin based chemotherapy followed by locoregional radiotherapy. The purpose of this study is to assess the antitumor activity and toxicity of a new neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen combining docetaxel (D) and cisplatin (C). Patients and Methods: Previously untreated patients (pts) with histologically diagnosed locally advanced UCNT (Stages IVA and IVB TNM/UICC 1997) received D 75 mg/m2 and C 75 mg/m2 both on day 1, cycles were repeated every 21 days. Every pts received three cycles in a neoadjuvant setting before radiotherapy (4 to 6 weeks after the third cycle of DC). Pts were evaluated by clinical examination, CT scan of nasopharynx and nasofibroscopy with biopsy. Primary end points were tumor response and disease free survival (DFS) Results: Toxicity, tumor response and survival over one year were assessable in all pts. There are 75 pts (54 male, 21 female) with a median age of 41...