Cisplatin (CDDP) and radiation versus cetuximab (Cx) and radiation in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (SCHNC): A retrospective review.

Abstract

e16009 Background: SCHNC is a common malignancy and approximately 60% of patients present with locally advanced disease. There is paucity of data directly comparing Cx and CDDP with concurrent radiation in locally advanced SCHNC. We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients treated with CDDP and/or Cx along with radiation in locally advanced SCHNC comparing efficacy and outcomes in an academic cancer center. Methods: Ninety-five patients with locally advanced SCHNC were treated with concurrent CDDP (100 mg/m2 day 1, 22, 43) or Cx (400mg/m2 on day -7 and 250mg/m2 weekly) at our institution between January 2006 and June 2011. Forty-four patients were treated with CDDP (group A), 24 with Cx (group B) and 27 were initially started on CDDP but were switched to Cx secondary to toxicity (group C). All patients received concurrent radiation treatments (66-70 Gy, 2.0 Gy/fraction). The selection of CDDP versus Cx was largely based on ECOG performance status (PS) and baseline renal function of the patients. Chi-square test, analysis of variance, and log-rank test was used for analysis. The three groups had similar baseline characteristics except for mean age of 61, 56 and 55 years in group A, B and C respectively; T4 tumors consisted of 44%, 75% and 41% in groups A, B and C respectively. Groups A, B and C had a combined ECOG 0 and I (PS) of 93%, 75% and 92%. Patients with ECOG III PS were excluded. Results: Oropharynx was the most common treated site (38%) followed by Larynx (35%). Complete response (CR) was seen in 77%, 17% and 67% in groups A, B and C respectively (P<0.001). Median progression free survival (PFS) was 16.6, 4.3 and 22.8 in groups A, B and C respectively (P<0.001) and median overall survival (OS) was >35, 11.6 and >32 months in groups A, B and C respectively (P<0.0001). Conclusions: Concurrent CDDP with radiation leads to better response rate PFS and OS as opposed to Cx though many patients treated with CDDP could not complete treatment due to toxicity. Randomized trial comparing the two should be considered.

Concurrent cisplatin or cetuximab with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…Moreover, the latest updated results of some duplicate studies were accepted and the previous reports were excluded. [ 51 – 58 ] Eighteen studies were included in this analysis to assess the impact of treatment on OS. The combined HR for OS was 0.53 (95%CI, 0.41–0.69, P < .001), suggesting that patients treated with CRT compared with BRT had a longer OS in locally advanced HNSCC.…”