Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Feasibility study of alternate-day S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy for head and neck cancer
Yorihisa Moro1, Yasunao Kogashiwa2, Dai Sato1
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan.
Aim:
This study analyzed the safety and feasibility of alternate-day S-1, a mixture of tegafur, dehydroxypyrimidine and potassium oxonate, as adjuvant chemotherapy for head and neck cancers.
Patients And Methods:
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who underwent primary treatment received alternate-day S-1 (80 mg/day for 1 year). The primary end-point was treatment completion rate. The secondary end-point was adverse events. Three-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results:
One-year completion rate was 65.6%. Out of 26 patients, 19.0% had grade III adverse events. All adverse reactions were tolerable and reversible. Three-year OS and DFS were 74.8% and 57.3%, respectively.
Conclusion:
S-1 therapy is an effective adjuvant treatment for head and neck cancer patients with relatively mild side-effects and does not adversely affect quality of life. A phase I/II study is warranted to investigate the appropriate dose for an alternate-day S-1 regimen.
