Docetaxel (Taxotere) is Effective in Heavily Pretreated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

It is well-established that nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a chemo-responsive disease.  Despite improved outcome with chemo-radiation (platimum-based chemotherapy with radiation), treatment failure continue to be a problem in patients with locally advanced Stage III/IV disease. 

Now, a new study published in the Annals of Oncology suggested that nasopharyngeal cancer patients who have failed platinum-based chemotherapy (such as oxaliplatin-Eloxatin) have another treatment option. 

Thirty patients with confirmed metastatic or recurrent NPC who have failed at least one line of palliative chemotherapy regimen were given weekly docetaxel every 28 days and were evaluated for responses.