title: Comparison of acute toxicities associated with cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy and platinum-based chemoradiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: A single-institution retrospective study in Japan.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Grade ≥ 3 mucositis/stomatitis and inability to feed orally were problematic for patients undergoing cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy (BRT) as well as platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Severe mucositis/stomatitis and radiation dermatitis should be addressed carefully in patients undergoing cetuximab-based BRT as well.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The efficacy of cetuximab-based BRT in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas has been established. However, the safety of cetuximab-based BRT in comparison with platinum-based CRT is currently under investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study retrospectively analyzed 14 patients undergoing cetuximab-based BRT and 29 patients undergoing platinum-based CRT to compare the incidence of acute toxicities. In the BRT group, an initial cetuximab loading dose of 400 mg/m(2) was delivered 1 week before the start of radiotherapy. Seven weekly infusions of 250 mg/m(2) of cetuximab followed during the definitive radiotherapy. In the CRT group, cisplatin was administered at a dose of 40 mg/m(2) weekly during the definitive radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BRT group had a higher incidence of Grade ≥ 3 radiation dermatitis than did the CRT group (43% vs 3%, respectively, p < 0.01). The incidence rate of Grade ≥ 3 mucositis/stomatitis was 64.3% and 41.4% in the BRT and CRT group, respectively (p = 0.1484), while the incidence rate of the inability to feed orally was 38.5% and 55.2%, respectively (p = 0.2053).
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery .
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Sakashita
authors: Akihiro
authors: A
authors: Homma
authors: Hiromitsu
authors: H
authors: Hatakeyama
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Furusawa
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Kano
authors: Takatsugu
authors: T
authors: Mizumachi
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Iizuka
authors: Rikiya
authors: R
authors: Onimaru
authors: Kazuhiko
authors: K
authors: Tsuchiya
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Yasuda
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Shirato
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052016:Mucositis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010984:Platinum / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010984:Platinum; D000068818:Cetuximab
keywords: Mucositis; chemotherapy; cisplatin; dermatitis; molecular target therapy; radiotherapy