title: Long-term remission of locally recurrent oropharyngeal cancer after docetaxel-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ineligible for resection or irradiation, treatment aims primarily at symptom control and quality of life enhancement with an expected outcome of 6-12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2005, a male patient, born in 1944, with a second local recurrence of human papillomavirus negative tonsil cancer was enrolled in the EXTREME trial, and randomized to platinum/5-fluorouracil/cetuximab arm resulting in partial remission with progression-free survival of 12 months. The second-line systemic therapy comprised 5 cycles of 3-weekly docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil regimen plus weekly cetuximab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As confirmed on imaging and repeated biopsies, complete response was achieved with disease-free survival of 8 years and follow-up period of 12 years. Severe acute toxicities during the taxane-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab included grade 4 anorexia and grade 3 febrile neutropenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor tumor differentiation, no weight loss, oropharyngeal location, white race, and particularly the induced complete response were most likely the key favorable prognostic factors in the reported patient. The possibility of a synergistic interaction between taxanes and cetuximab should be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium. petr.szturz@fnbrno.cz.|Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, University Hospital Brno and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. petr.szturz@fnbrno.cz.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szturz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Specenier
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Laer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Radiotherapy, University Radiotherapy Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Den Weyngaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corthouts
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laurens
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carp
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Marck
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vanderveken
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vermorken
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D011788:Quality of Life; D012074:Remission Induction; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor; Positron emission tomography; Targeted therapy; Taxanes; Tonsil cancer