Prolonged Overall Treatment Time and Lack of Skin Rash Negatively Impact Overall Survival in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy and Concomitant Cetuximab
Background Cetuximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against EGFR sensitizes tumors to radiotherapy (RT), but is associated with skin and mucosal toxicity. Objective We report outcomes and tolerance of definitive RT in association with cetuximab in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcin...
Gespeichert in:
Veröffentlicht in: | Targeted oncology 2017-08, Vol.12 (4), p.505-512 |
---|---|
Hauptverfasser: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
Schlagworte: | |
Online-Zugang: | Volltext |
Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
Zusammenfassung: | Background
Cetuximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against EGFR sensitizes tumors to radiotherapy (RT), but is associated with skin and mucosal toxicity.
Objective
We report outcomes and tolerance of definitive RT in association with cetuximab in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (LASCC) of the head and neck.
Patients and Methods
Between 2006 and 2011, 92 consecutive patients with LASCC of the head and neck were treated with RT and concomitant weekly cetuximab. Median age was 61.7 years. Most patients presented with oropharyngeal tumors (52.2%) and stage IV disease (77.2%).
Results
Sixty-nine patients received at least 7 cycles of cetuximab. Cetuximab was stopped at the first infusion following allergic reactions in four patients. During RT, 37% of patients developed grade ≥ 3 dermatitis; grade ≥ 2 cetuximab-induced rash occurred in 43 patients (46.7%). Severe mucositis (grade ≥ 3) affected 57.6% of patients. Ten percent of patients did not receive the full course of RT, and temporary discontinuation due to acute toxicity was frequent and affected 37 patients (53%). The median RT overall treatment time (OTT) in patients with interrupted RT was 56 days (47–75) compared to 51 days (47–65) in patients who did not require toxicity-related radiation interruptions (
p
|
---|---|
ISSN: | 1776-2596 1776-260X |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11523-017-0499-0 |