Re-irradiation with cetuximab or cisplatin-based chemotherapy for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract

Both cetuximab- and cisplatin-based ReRT of SCCHN recurrences are feasible and effective treatment options with comparable results in terms of tumour control and survival. Acute adverse events may differ slightly. Our prognostic score could help to identify appropriate patients for ReRT and stratify patients within future clinical trials.

Re-irradiation with 36 Gy (1.5 Gy Twice Daily) Plus Paclitaxel for Advanced Recurrent and Previously Irradiated SCCHN is Feasible

“…Again, the outcomes were quite promising taking into account that the recurrent tumors were more advanced than in our previous study. loco-regional control rate inside the re-irradiated areas of 75% was at the top of the range of 44-80% found in other studies (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). And the 1-year survival rate of 50% was well in the range of 33% to 77% reported in the other studies.…”

“…The chemoradiation regimen used in the present study was well tolerated; grade 3 toxicities were not observed. In other studies, grade 3 or greater toxicities were reported in up to 36% of patients and treatment-related deaths in up to 12% of patients (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

“…Moreover, the 1-year survival rate of 75% was more favorable than in most other recent studies using chemoradiation or external beam radiotherapy alone including modern high-precision techniques such as tomotherapy, CyberKnife ® , protons and charged particles for an advanced loco-regional recurrence of SCCHN. The 1-year survival rates in most of the other studies ranged from 33% to 62.5% (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). In one study using conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy or tomotherapy, the survival at 1 year was 77% (20).…”

Clinical potential of boron neutron capture therapy for locally recurrent inoperable previously irradiated head and neck cancer

“…These results must also be considered in the context of trials in which radiation therapy has been re-administered to previously irradiated patients who present with LRHNC. Dornoff et al report 1 year overall survival rates for RT with cetuximab of 44.4% and of RT with cisplatin of 45.5% in a cohort of 66 re-irradiated patients with LRHNC (Dornoff et al, 2015). Other studies have yielded similar results with reports of median progression-free survival from re-irradiation of 15.0 months (Mallick et al, 2014) to 2 year overall survival rates of 43% (Riaz et al, 2014).…”

Second infield re‐irradiation with a resulting cumulative equivalent dose (EQD2max) of >180 Gy for patients with recurrent head and neck cancer

“…Abbreviations: Cet., cetuximab; NR, not reported; RT, radiotherapy; SBRT, stereotactic body radiotherapy …”