Fixed-dose every-other-week capecitabine and oxaliplatin for refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Guilherme Rabinowits1, Leela Bhupalam, Donald M Miller
1Department of Medicine, J.G. Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. g0rabi01@louisville.edu
Aims:
To maximize the palliative benefits of capecitabine and oxaliplatin for patients with refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
Methods:
Patients received fixed-dose capecitabine (1500 mg orally twice a day) on days 1 to 7 and oxaliplatin (85 mg/m) days 1 and 14.
Results:
Fifteen patients with refractory SCCHN were enrolled. All patients had relapsed after surgery and had failed radiation therapy. Eighty-seven percent (13) had progressed after chemotherapy. The most common toxicities were grades 1 or 2 fatigue and anemia. There was a 13% partial response rate and 33% stable disease rate for a clinical benefit of 46% by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria.
Conclusions:
Fixed-dose capecitabine and oxaliplatin combination on an every-other-week schedule showed activity in refractory SCCHN. The simplicity and toxicity profile of this regimen compares favorably with other commonly used chemotherapies and should be tested in larger studies.
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