• 6/9/2006
  • Iowa City, IA
  • staff
  • CancerConsultants.com

According to results presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), initial therapy for head and neck cancer that includes standard chemotherapy plus Erbitux® (cetuximab) provides anticancer responses in 100% of patients.

Approximately 40,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with head and neck cancer every year. Cancers of the head and neck include several types of cancers affecting the nasal cavity and sinuses, oral cavity, nasopharynx (upper part of throat, behind ear), oropharynx (middle part of throat, including soft palate, base of tongue, and tonsils), and other sites throughout the head and neck. In 2005 the American Cancer Society estimated that 11,000 people would die from head and neck cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway is a biologic pathway that plays a role in cellular replication and is often over-expressed in cancer. Erbitux, a monoclonal antibody (or protein), is designed to bind to the EGFR and inhibit the receptor’s effects on cellular replication. This ultimately reduces or prevents growth and spread of cancer cells in some cancers.

Recently, Erbitux was approved by the FDA for use combination with radiation therapy for the treatment of locally or regionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cancer that has spread from its site of origin but not to distant sites in the body), or as a single agent in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body) that has progressed following prior platinum-based chemotherapy (chemotherapy agents including Platinol® [cisplatin] and Paraplatin® [carboplatin]). Erbitux continues to be evaluated in combination with different treatment regimens for various types of cancer.

Researchers recently conducted a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Erbitux in combination with chemotherapy including Taxol® (paclitaxel) and Paraplatin as initial therapy in patients with head and neck cancers. This trial included patients who did not have metastatic cancer; some patients also received treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy, depending on the aggressiveness and/or extent of spread of their cancer.

– 100% of patients achieved anticancer responses.
– 83% of patients achieved a complete disappearance of cancer (complete response).
– 17% of patients achieved a partial disappearance of cancer (partial response).
– Nearly one-quarter of patients were considered to be cancer-free following chemotherapy/Erbitux.
– Currently, three patients have experienced a recurrence of their cancer.
– Erbitux did not increase notable side effects; however, approximately half of patients treated with Erbitux experienced severe skin rash.
– Longer follow-up will provide progression-free and overall survival data for these patients.

The researchers concluded that the addition of Erbitux to standard chemotherapy appears highly active in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Longer follow-up will provide additional data regarding this treatment option.

Reference:
Kies M, Garden A, Holsinger C, et al. Induction Chemotherapy (CT) with Weekly Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Cetuximab for Squamous Cell carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HN). Proceedings from the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. June 2006. Atlanta, GA. Abstract 5520.