Clinical efficacy of gefitinib (ZD1839, Iressa), which is an inhibitor specific for epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase, has been shown in non-small-cell lung carcinoma patients with EGF receptor mutations, so these mutations are useful marker(s) to find a responder for the drug. Recent studies have shown that the EGF receptor gene mutation is rare in squamous cell carcinoma in the esophageal and head and neck regions. We previously reported that the expression of the chemokine BRAK/CXCL14 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells was downregulated by EGF treatment, and that forced expression of BRAK in tumor cells decreased the tumorigenicity of the cells in xenografts. Thus, we investigated the relationship between restoration of BRAK expression by gefitinib and the efficacy of the drug for tumor suppression. We found that EGF down-regulated BRAK expression through the MEK-extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway and that this down-regulated expression was restored by gefitinib in vitro. Oral administration of gefitinib significantly (P < 0.001) reduced tumor growth of xenografts of three HNSCC cell lines (HSC-2, HSC-3, and HSC-4), in female athymic nude mice, accompanied by an increase in BRAK expression specifically in tumor tissue. This tumor-suppressing effect of the drug was not observed in the case of BRAK non-expressing cells. Furthermore introduction of BRAK shRNA vector reduced both the expression levels of BRAK in HSC-3 cells and the antitumor efficacy of gefitinib in vivo. Our data showing an inverse relationship between BRAK expression levels in tumor cells and the tumor growth rate indicate that the gefitinib-induced increase in BRAK expression is beneficial for tumor suppression in

Salvage surgery is the best therapeutic option for failure after CCRT for SCCHN because of its good survival rate, although a high surgical complication rate is seen. Patients with initial stage IV tumors, poorly differentiated SCC, or synchronous double cancer are considered for further adjuvant treatment.

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of cetuximab in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil for first-line treatment of Japanese patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.MethodsIn this open-label, single-arm, multicenter, Phase II study conducted in Japan, patients with confirmed recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received weekly cetuximab (week 1, 400 mg/m2; subsequent weeks, 250 mg/m2) plus a maximum of six three-weekly cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m2, day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2/day, 24-h infusion, days 1–4). The primary endpoint was the best overall response assessed by an independent review committee according to the modified World Health Organization criteria.ResultsIn total, 33 patients received treatment. The most frequent primary tumor site was the hypopharynx (42%), and most patients had metastatic disease (85%). The best overall response rate as assessed by the independent review committee was 36% (95% confidence interval: 20, 55) and was significantly greater (P = 0.002) than the protocol-specified threshold of 15% at the one-sided 5% level. The disease control rate was 88%. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4.1 and 14.1 months, respectively. There were no unexpected safety concerns. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were experienced by nearly all patients (32, 97%). No adverse events were fatal.ConclusionsThe demonstrated efficacy and safety of cetuximab in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil for the first-line treatment of Japanese patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck justify the further use of this combination treatment in this patient population (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00971932).

Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been successfully used to treat some patients with colorectal cancer and those with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). For the effective treatment, it is essential to first identify cetuximab-responsive patients. The level of EGFR expression and/or the presence of mutations in signalling molecules downstream of the EGFR pathway have been reported to be determining factors for cetuximab responsiveness in colorectal cancer patients; however, limited data have been reported for HNSCC patients. We previously reported that the chemokine CXCL14 exhibits tumour-suppressive effects against xenografted HNSCC cells, which may be classified into two groups, CXCL14-expressing and non-expressing cells under serum-starved culture conditions. Here we employed CXCL14-expressing HSC-3 cells and CXCL14-non-expressing YCU-H891 cells as representatives of the two groups and compared their responses to cetuximab and their CXCL14 expression under various conditions. The growth of xenografted tumours initiated by HSC-3 cells, which expressed CXCL14 in vivo and in vitro, was suppressed by the injection of cetuximab into tumour-bearing mice; however, neither the expression of the chemokine nor the cetuximab-dependent suppression of xenograft tumour growth was observed for YCU-H891 cells. Both types of cells expressed EGFR and neither type harboured mutations in signalling molecules downstream of EGFR that have been reported in cetuximab-resistant colon cancer patients. The inhibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling increased the levels of CXCL14 messenger RNA (mRNA) in HSC-3 cells, but not in YCU-H891 cells. We also observed that the CXCL14 promoter region in YCU-H891 cells was hypermethylated, and that demethylation of the promoter by treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine restored CXCL14 mRNA expression and in vivo cetuximab-mediated tumour growth suppression. Finally, we observed in vivo tumour growth suppression when YCU-H891 cells were engineered to express CXCL14 ectopically in the presence of doxycycline. These results indicate that CXCL14 expression may be a good predictive biomarker for cetuximab-dependent tumour suppression.

Abstract. The overexpression of EGFR and/or HER-2 is associated with tumor cell resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, disease progression and poor prognosis in patients with a variety of malignant tumors. Treatment combining the EGFR-targeting drug, gefitinib (ZD1839, Iressa) with the HER-2-targeting drug, trastuzumab (Herceptin) has been reported to improve therapeutic efficacy in patients with breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the antitumor effect of this combination on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in vitro. Cell proliferation was inhibited significantly in two cell lines. Although IC 50 of gefitinib alone against some cell lines was not reached, it was achieved after being combined with trastuzumab. Furthermore, IC 50 was lower for the combination than for gefitinib alone in several cell lines. These results suggest that the combination may improve efficacy against HNSCC.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations are associated with the sensitivity of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) to gefitinib, but such findings have not been reported in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and heck (SCCHNs). Accordingly, we determined whether EGFR gene expression and mutations correlate with the in vitro efficacy of gefitinib in SCCHN cell lines. EGFR status was analyzed in 16 different SCCHN cell lines by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing for activating mutations, by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and by Western blot analysis for RNA and protein expression. Using direct sequencing of PCR products from exons 18-23 of 9 SCCHN cell lines, we found a heterozygous EGFR mutation (EGFR mut) with a 2607G›A transition in exon 20 (G/A genotype). The 9 different cell lines that showed this mutation also showed higher sensitivity (lower IC 50 values) to gefitinib than cell lines with wild-type EGFR (EGFR wt : G/G genotype) (p=0.016). EGFR protein levels correlated robustly (r=0.76) and significantly (p=0.0007) with EGFR mRNA levels and with IC 50 values for gefitinib (r=0.65, p=0.0067). EGFR mRNA correlated with IC 50 values (r=0.67, p=0.0046). Our conclusion was that the heterozygous and synonymous transition of the EGFR gene and low EGFR expression levels of mRNA and protein in SCCHN may be reliable predictors of high sensitivity in SCCHN patients to gefitinib.

PurposeTo evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of pretreatment metabolic tumor volume (MTV) in patients with treated by radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).MethodsWe reviewed the records of 118 patients with newly diagnosed laryngeal carcinoma, who had been treated by RT or CCRT. Pretreatment positron emission tomography (PET) was performed, and MTV values were obtained by contouring margins of standardized uptake value. Clinical factors and MTV were analyzed for their association with survival.ResultsPatients with residual disease showed a significantly higher MTV than those with a complete response (CR) after primary treatment. Univariate analysis showed that the patients with a high MTV had a significantly lower disease-free survival (DFS) (p < 0.001). Subsite (p = 0.010), T-stage (p < 0.001), nodal metastasis (p < 0.001) and clinical stage (p < 0.001) also correlated significantly with DFS. In the multivariate analysis, MTV and clinical stage were both found to be independent prognostic factors for DFS (p = 0.001, p = 0.034, respectively). The 3-year DFS for patients with a high MTV were significantly poorer than those with a low MTV (p < 0.001).ConclusionsMTV of the primary tumor is a significant prognostic factor for DFS in patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated by RT or CCRT. The results imply that MTV could be an important factor when planning treatment and follow-up for patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

GLUT1 is expressed in salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas. Furthermore, the GLUT1 index shows significant correlation with the SUV of FDGPET. This result suggests that GLUT1 plays an important role in increasing FDG uptake in salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas.