Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42321599›Full record

ArticleCancer medicine2026

Optimizing Outcomes in Elderly HNSCC: Efficacy of UFT Metronomic Therapy.

Hsu-Lin Lee, Po-Huang Chen, Yu-Guang Chen, Jia-Hong Chen, Tzu-Chuan Huang, Ching-Liang Ho, Ren-Hua Ye

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Article in Cancer medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hsu-Lin LeeDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1338-945X
Po-Huang ChenDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Guang ChenDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jia-Hong ChenDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tzu-Chuan HuangDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ching-Liang HoDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ren-Hua YeDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Funding

Tri-Service General Hospital TSGH-D-115084
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a significant clinical challenge, especially in elderly patients with advanced-stage disease and multiple comorbidities. Metronomic chemotherapy with oral tegafur-uracil (UFT) offers a low-toxicity maintenance option that may improve outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of UFT as metronomic therapy in elderly patients with nondistant metastatic stage III/IV HNSCC. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 70 years diagnosed with non-distant metastatic stage III/IV HNSCC between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2023 at a single center. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving metronomic UFT following initial treatment (UFT group) and those without UFT (non-UFT group). The primary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to assess the impact of UFT on survival outcomes.

resultsA total of 103 patients were included, with 40 in the UFT group and 63 in the non-UFT group. The UFT group showed significantly longer PFS (median: 24.6 vs. 7.2 months, p = 0.0011) and OS (median: 26.0 vs. 9.6 months, p = 0.012). Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent association of UFT with improved PFS and OS.

conclusionsMetronomic UFT was associated with improved PFS and OS in elderly patients with advanced HNSCC and was well tolerated, with all adverse events limited to grade 1-2. Landmark analysis confirmed that the observed benefit was not attributable to immortal time bias. These exploratory findings warrant validation in prospective studies.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsHead and Neck NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckTegafurAdministration, MetronomicAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleProgression-Free SurvivalRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeUracilTegafurUracil

Identifiers

PMID42321599
PMCPMC13282181

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