Cetuximab in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland carcinomas: A phase II study.
EGFR overexpression in salivary gland carcinomas provides the rational for the investigation of anti-EGFR treatments in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancers (RMSGCs). The activity of cetuximab in terms of clinical benefit rate (CBR) defined as the occurrence of objective response (CR or PR) or stable disease (SD) for >or=6months was investigated. From April to December 2005, 30 patients [23 adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and 7 non-ACC] were treated with cetuximab at 400mg/m(2)/week followed by 250mg/m(2)/week until progression, major toxicity or voluntary discontinuation. EGFR expression and gene status were retrospectively analyzed by immunocytochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, respectively. A median of 14 courses of cetuximab (range 5-54) were infused. Skin toxicity was the main adverse event. Cetuximab provides a CBR in 50% (95% CL, 31 to 69%) of cases. None tumor sample showed EGFR gene amplification and an increased EGFR copy number was observed in 12% of samples, all ACC. Skin rash >or=G2, EGFR overexpression and EGFR copy number were not statistically correlated to CB. In RMSGCs further evaluations of EGFR targeting agents are advisable and should take place by appropriate tumor biological selection, differentiating ACC from non-ACC.
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Head and Neck Cancer Medical Oncology Unit, Cancer Medicine Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan, Italy.
Bossi
P
P
Perrone
F
F
Potepan
P
P
Crippa
F
F
Mariani
L
L
Casieri
P
P
Orsenigo
M
M
Losa
M
M
Bergamini
C
C
Liberatoscioli
C
C
Quattrone
P
P
Calderone
R G
RG
Rinaldi
G
G
Pilotti
S
S
Licitra
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D000068818:Cetuximab; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab