Cetuximab Plus Radiotherapy Versus Cisplatin Plus Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Summary

BACKGROUND: Concomitant radiotherapy and cisplatin (CDDP) based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for LA-NHSCC. This combined modality treatment is linked with considerable acute local and systemic toxicity.EGFR is overexpressed in 90-100% of the HNSCC cases and is considered an unfavourable prognostic marker. EGFR costitutive activation is linked with HNSCC pathogenesis. Cetuximab is a monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody blocking the activation of the receptor and signal transduction. Cetuximab combined with radiotherapy is superior to radiotherapy only in the treatment of LA-HNSCC and is characterized by an acceptable toxicity profile. RATIONALE: A direct comparison between concomitant chemoradiotherapy with Cisplatin and the concomitant treatment with radiotherapy associated to cetuximab does not exist. STUDY DESIGN: Arm A: Radical radiotherapy (doses and volumes) concomitant with chemotherapy with Cisplatin (40 mg/mq/week) Arm B: Radical radiotherapy (doses and volumes) concomitant with therapy with the monoclonal antibody Cetuximab (400 mg/m2 \["loading dose"\] and subsequently 250 mg /m2/week)

Timeline

Start

2010-10

Primary completion

2015-05-20

Completion

2015-05-20

Outcome

Outcome not reported

Stopped (Enrollment): “insufficient recruitment”

Publications

• Buglione M, Maddalo M, Corvo R, Pirtoli L, Paiar F, Lastrucci L, Stefanacci M, Belgioia L, Crociani M, Vecchio S, Bonomo P, Bertocci S, Borghetti P, Pasinetti N, Triggiani L, Costa L, Tonoli S, Grisanti S, Magrini SM. Subgroup Analysis According to Human Papillomavirus Status and Tumor Site of a Randomized Phase II Trial Comparing Cetuximab and Cisplatin Combined With Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2017 Mar 1;97(3):462-472. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2016.10.011. Epub 2016 Oct 20.

Drugs

Indications