Cetuximab, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy for Operable Stage III or IV Head and Neck Cancer

Summary

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving cetuximab with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. Giving cetuximab after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving cetuximab together with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy works in treating patients who are undergoing surgery for stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.

Timeline

Start

2005-01-06

Primary completion

2010-02

Completion

2011-02

Publications

• Results Wanebo HJ, Ghebremichael M, Burtness B, et al.: Phase II evaluation of cetuximab (C225) combined with induction paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by C225, paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiation for stage III/IV operable squamous cancer of the head and neck (ECOG, E2303). [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 25 (Suppl 18): A-6015, 302s, 2007.
• Wanebo HJ, Lee J, Burtness BA, Ridge JA, Ghebremichael M, Spencer SA, Psyrri D, Pectasides E, Rimm D, Rosen FR, Hancock MR, Tolba KA, Forastiere AA. Induction cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin followed by chemoradiation with cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin for stage III/IV head and neck squamous cancer: a phase II ECOG-ACRIN trial (E2303). Ann Oncol. 2014 Oct;25(10):2036-2041. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu248. Epub 2014 Jul 9.

Drugs

Indications