ABSTRACT Aim: To confirm whether the aflibercept dose, plus docetaxel, in western study TCD6120 is appropriate for Chinese patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and other solid tumors. Materials & methods: To assess dose-limiting toxicity of every 3-week 4 mg/kg or 6 mg/kg aflibercept plus 75 mg/m² docetaxel. Results: Previously treated patients (16 with NPC and 4 with lung cancer) were enrolled. At 6 mg/kg aflibercept: one dose-limiting toxicity was seen (neutropenic infection); the most frequently reported all-grade adverse events were oropharyngeal pain, stomatitis and alopecia; the most frequently reported grade 3/4 adverse events were oropharyngeal pain, stomatitis and neutropenic infection. Eleven patients had partial response and 3 had stable disease. Conclusion: Preliminary efficacy data for docetaxel/aflibercept are encouraging in Chinese patients with NPC. Trial registration: This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry ( ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT01148615).