title: A phase II study of intra-arterial cisplatin with concurrent radiation and erlotinib for locally advanced head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Based on the convenient oral dosing of erlotinib and the promising results of biologic therapy, we undertook a phase II study with 21 patients with locally advanced (T3-4) lesions combining radiation with intra-arterial (IA) cisplatin and oral daily erlotinib for a 7-week therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment for the primary tumor and upper neck was given to a total dose of 70 Gy. Chemotherapy with IA cisplatin (150 mg/m(2)) was given on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 concurrently with radiotherapy. During the 7-week treatment period, patients were given erlotinib 150 mg/day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall survival is 63 %, and the relapse/persistent disease rate stands at 36.8 %. A total of 15.2 % of serious adverse event was considered related to erlotinib.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study and several others now demonstrate the feasibility of combining anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy with chemoradiation, hint at improved survival outcomes with reduced distant metastatic rates, and suggest that maintenance therapy with anti-EGFR agent may be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA. krao@siumed.edu
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Sini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalapurakal
authors.forename: Pratima
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chalasani
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ronen
authors.forename: Muthuswamy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhiwakar
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shevlin
authors.forename: K Thomas
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D002945:Cisplatin