title: Cetuximab, paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiation for head and neck cancer: a survival analysis of a Brown University Oncology Group phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect on progression-free and overall survival from the addition of cetuximab to paclitaxel-based chemoradiation for patients with squamous cell head and neck cancer from Brown University Oncology Group studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  BrUOG HN-204 patients with stage III or IV locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck without distant organ metastases received 4 weeks of induction cetuximab followed by weekly cetuximab, paclitaxel, carboplatin, and concurrent radiation. Recurrence and survival data were compared with previous Brown University studies utilizing the same paclitaxel-based chemoradiation with and without induction chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The progression-free survival and overall survival at 3 years for all 37 patients initiating chemoradiation was 54% and 57%, respectively. All surviving patients were followed for at least 3 years and the median follow-up is 4.4 years. Of 14 patients who recurred within 3 years, 7 patients recurred locally only, 5 had a systemic recurrence, and 2 recurred both locally and systemically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of cetuximab to paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiation achieves overall survival that is virtually identical to prior Brown University Oncology Group studies of paclitaxel-based chemoradiation without cetuximab. Improvements in locoregional control are needed despite the use of 3 agents to enhance the effects of radiation.
authors.affiliation: Brown University Oncology Group, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dipetrillo
authors.forename: Ritesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merriam
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wanebo
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Yacoub
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Puthawala
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luppe
authors.forename: Humera
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Follett
authors.forename: Terence Tai-Weng
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Sio
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Safran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068818:Cetuximab; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000068818:Cetuximab