title: Afatinib in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently new data on the efficacy of afatinib in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have been published.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the literature for published and ongoing studies with afatinib in HNSCC. Phase I data and results of phase II and III studies of afatinib in HNSCC are discussed. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of afatinib monotherapy with continuous administration was determined at 40 or 50 mg/day, rash and diarrhea being the principal dose-limiting toxicities. The MTD was lower when combined with chemotherapy. Studies with afatinib have been conducted or are ongoing both in the recurrent or metastatic (R/M) and in the locoregionally advanced (LA) HNSCC disease setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparable disease control and tumor shrinkage rates were observed with cetuximab and afatinib in HNSCC progressing after platinum-containing chemotherapy. In patients with R/M- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who had progressed on/after first-line platinum-based therapy, afatinib induced significantly higher disease control rate, longer progression-free survival and improved patient-reported outcome compared to methotrexate. Randomized phase III trials studying the role of adjuvant afatinib after definitive or postoperative chemoradiation in LA-HNSCC are ongoing.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Oncology , Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen , Edegem , Belgium.|b Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Universiteit Antwerpen , Wilrijk , Belgium.
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Specenier
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Oncology , Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen , Edegem , Belgium.|b Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Universiteit Antwerpen , Wilrijk , Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermorken
mesh_terms: D000077716:Afatinib; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077716:Afatinib; D000068818:Cetuximab; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN); adjuvant; afatinib; recurrent metastatic