title: Palliative weekly chemotherapy along with cetuximab in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancers: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was undertaken to report the results of weekly combination chemotherapy with cetuximab in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M SCCHN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 35 R/M SCCHN patients who received cetuximab with weekly paclitaxel and platin (cisplatin/carboplatin) from SCCHN August 2006 to October 2008 at our Institute was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients (33 [94.3%] males and 2 [5.7%] females) received the planned weekly chemotherapy protocol. Median age of these patients was 52 years. Of the SCCHN 32 evaluable patients, 25 patients showed symptomatic improvement and 7 showed no improvement. Radiological responses using RECIST criteria reported CR in 1 patient (3.1%), PR in 17 patients (53.1%), and SD in 6 patients (18.8%). The remaining six patients demonstrated disease progression while two could not be assessed. Median overall survival (OS) was 8.016 months (95% CI; 6.572--9.461) and median PFS was 5.782 months (95% CI; 4.521--7.044). The major chemotherapy-related grades 2 and 3 toxicity recorded was cetuximab-induced rash reported in 24 patients. No treatment-related death within 30 days was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cetuximab with weekly combination chemotherapy (Paclitaxel + Platinum compound) has shown promise, demonstrating comparable response and outcomes with acceptable toxicity in R/M SCCHN patients.
authors: Senior Consultant Medical Oncology, BLKCC, Senior Consultant Medical Oncology, Action Balaji Cancer Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: Rangaraju
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Sharma
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Dewan
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Anand
authors: Rawat
authors: R
authors: Sheh
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Jena
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Chaturvedi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002945:Cisplatin