Multidisciplinary, Multi-Institutional Consensus on Cetuximab Usefulness in the Treatment of Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor is preferably expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and is a promising therapeutic target. Cetuximab is the only epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted agent that has been approved for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma. The 2006 FDA-approved indication refers to the use of cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of locoregional, advanced, unresectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, except for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In 2011, the use of cetuximab in combination with platinum and 5-fluorouracil was approved as first-line treatment for recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In order to homogenize and arrive at a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional consensus based on scientific evidence, a meeting was held where the existing literature was reviewed and the role of cetuximab in the treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was discussed. This work reviews current evidence-based indications for the use of cetuximab in the treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. (creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).