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.