Capecitabine For Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Summary

This study plans to examine the effects of Capecitabine administered as an oral chemotherapy drug in participants with nasopharyngeal cancer. Capecitabine is an oral prodrug. A "prodrug" is a drug that is converted within the body into its active form that has medical effects. Capecitabine is a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is a chemotherapy agent frequently used to treat head and neck cancers. Capecitabine is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and is converted to 5-FU. Capecitabine (Xeloda9) has been tested in subjects with colorectal and breast cancers, and shown to be effective in those cancers. Likewise, 5-FU has shown benefit when administered as a continuous infusion for those with nasopharyngeal cancers. Since Capecitabine is a prodrug of 5-FU, it is possible that similar results will be achieved. RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of capecitabine in treating patients who have locally recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

Timeline

Start

2004-06

Primary completion

2007-05

Completion

2007-05

Drugs

Indications