title: Concurrent cetuximab versus platinum-based chemoradiation for the definitive treatment of locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to present our experience utilizing cetuximab and platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy for the definitive treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n = 177) who received definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for HNSCC were stratified into 3 groups: receiving cetuximab monotherapy (n = 24), cetuximab and chemotherapy combination (n = 33), or platinum-based chemotherapy without cetuximab (n = 120). Primary endpoints were freedom from relapse, event-free survival, and overall survival (OS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients receiving cetuximab monotherapy were older with lower Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and higher Charlson comorbidity scores compared with those treated with combination cetuximab and chemotherapy or platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Patients treated with platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy exhibited significantly better freedom from relapse, event-free survival, and OS compared with those receiving cetuximab monotherapy or cetuximab and chemotherapy combination therapies (all p < .05). Differences between patients receiving cetuximab monotherapy and platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy held on multivariate Cox regression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy is superior to cetuximab-based monotherapy for the definitive treatment of HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Cato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Eyben
authors.forename: A Dimitrios
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Colevas
authors.forename: Harlan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee-Enriquez
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Quynh-Thu
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Le
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010984:Platinum / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010984:Platinum; D000068818:Cetuximab
keywords: cetuximab; chemoradiation; head and neck cancer; human papillomavirus; platinum-based chemotherapy