Patient description: A 35-year-old woman presents with history of acne and mild hirsutism. The primary evaluation revealed elevated testosterone levels. She recently noticed gradual enlargement of her hands and feet and recognized that her ring is getting small for her finger. There is some irregularity in her menstrual cycle as well as some nipple discharge. She also has positive history for snoring and headache. The physical examination revealed subtle facial features of acromegaly and prognathism. Visual fields are normal by confrontation. Hirsutism, soft tissue thickening and diaphoresis of the hands and feet are noted. Laboratory evaluation in the fasting state reveals IGF-1 of 968 ng/mL and random GH of 19.7 ng/mL. MRI reveals a macroadenoma with no invasion. She is on stable doses of octreotide LAR since her diagnosis was confirmed. She is married and has 2 children. She is using IUD as her contraceptive method.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-999.0,  Head and Neck Cancer Patients must have documented advanced, locally recurrent, or metastatic head and neck carcinoma, which is untreatable by surgical resection or radiation therapy Prior chemotherapy for advanced/metastatic disease is allowed (1 regimen only) Patients must be taxane-naïve (no prior docetaxel or paclitaxel) Patients who have received chemoradiation as a primary therapy for advanced head and neck cancer are eligible Patients must have measurable or evaluable disease. Pre-study imaging for disease assessment must be done within 28 days of registration Patients with brain metastases are eligible if they have been stable for at least six weeks post-radiation therapy Aged 18 years or older Performance status of 0-2 by Zubrod criteria Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks Hematologic: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) equal to or > 1,500/mm3; hemoglobin equal to or > 8.0 g/dl; platelets equal to or > 100,000/mm3  Patients with congestive heart failure, second or third degree heart block or recent myocardial infarction within 12 months from registration are not eligible Peripheral neuropathy equal to or greater than grade 2 Patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 Use of standard chemotherapy or investigational agents for treatment of head and neck cancer within 28 days of 1st dose of study drug Any medical or psychiatric illness which, in the opinion of the principal investigator, would compromise the patient's ability to tolerate this treatment regimen Prior unanticipated severe reaction to fluoropyrimidine therapy or known hypersensitivity to 5-fluorouracil Pregnant or lactating women, women of childbearing potential with either a positive pregnancy test (PPT) at baseline, or sexually active females not using a reliable contraceptive method while on study and for at least six months after chemotherapy. (Postmenopausal women must have been amenorrheic for at least 12 months to be considered of non-childbearing potential.) Sexually active patients not using a reliable contraceptive method while on study and for at least six months after chemotherapy Patients with malabsorption syndromes will be excluded. Administration of capecitabine through feeding tubes is permitted Serious concurrent infections