title: Efficacy of cetuximab in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (CSCC) are very common. Localized CSCC are cured by surgery and/or radiotherapy and have a better prognosis than locally inoperable advanced CSCC. Cetuximab has recently been proposed to treat locally advanced CSCC when surgery or radiotherapy cannot be offered.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors report results of a pilot study conducted in inoperable CSCC patients treated with cetuximab alone or combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in 20 CSCC patients. RECIST criteria were used to evaluate clinical and radiological responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients received cetuximab associated with radiotherapy (CR), nine with carboplatin (CC) and six as monotherapy (CM) over 1-month cycle treatment. Response to treatment was evaluated every two cycles. After 2 months of treatment, the authors observed nine partial responses, six stabilizations and four progressions. Disease control rate was of 78% (100% for CR, 87.5% for CC and 50% for CM) with a 47% response rate (80% for CR, 37.5% for CC and 33% for CM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors confirm the potential interest of cetuximab to treat unresectable advanced CSCC alone or combined with CC and CM. These results justify discussing a further randomized study combining radiotherapy and cetuximab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermato-Cancerology, Nantes University Hospital , 1 place Alexis Ricordeau, 44000 Nantes, France CIC biothérapie, INSERM 0305, 44000 Nantes , France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Preneau
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rio
authors.forename: Anabelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brocard
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peuvrel
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Gaelle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quéreux
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dreno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000068818:Cetuximab; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D000068818:Cetuximab