Cetuximab-based therapy in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: experience from an area in which betel nut chewing is popular.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab-based therapy in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in an area in which betel nut chewing is popular.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients were enrolled in the study from 2004 to 2008, of whom 13 received first-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy and 12 received second-line cetuximab with or without chemotherapy after the failure of cisplatin.


RESULTS
In the first-line chemotherapy group, the overall response [complete response (CR) plus partial response (PR)] was 54% and disease control rate [CR + PR + stable disease (SD)] was 62%. In the cisplatin-failure therapy group, the overall response was 16.7% and disease control rate was 50%. Median overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) in the first-line chemotherapy group were 857 days and 147 days, respectively. In the cisplatin-failure therapy group, median OS and TTP were 371 days and 136 days, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 toxicity in both groups of patients was infection/fever (23% in the first-line group, 50% in the cisplatin-failure group), followed by neutropenia (23% in the first-line group, 25% in the cisplatin-failure group).


CONCLUSIONS
Cetuximab-based therapy is an effective and safe treatment choice for recurrent/metastatic HNSCC in areas where betel nut chewing is popular.
Chang
Peter Mu-Hsin
PM
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Hsieh
Yao-Yu
YY
Chen
Ming-Huang
MH
Tzeng
Cheng-Hwai
CH
Chu
Pen-Yuan
PY
Chang
Shyue-Yih
SY
Chen
Po-Min
PM
Yang
Muh-Hwa
MH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D000068818:Cetuximab; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab