Cetuximab Plus Concurrent Radiotherapy in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
In Vivo 2023;
37:2224-2228. [PMID:
37652522 PMCID:
PMC10500510 DOI:
10.21873/invivo.13323]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM
Several reports have evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent radiotherapy with cetuximab (BRT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Combination therapy with cetuximab can be a treatment option for NPC. Although clinical data regarding the efficacy and safety of BRT without induction chemotherapy (ICT) or adjuvant chemotherapy is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies, such data are rarely reported.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We retrospectively investigated a series of patients with NPC treated in our institution to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BRT. Eleven patients with newly diagnosed NPC were identified from an inpatient database from July 2015 to April 2018. Seven patients who received BRT were reviewed.
RESULTS
All patients completed BRT without cessation of treatment. Six (85.7%) patients achieved a complete response and one (14.3%) achieved stable disease. The response rate was 85.7%. All patients with ≤T3 disease achieved a complete response. Both patients with T3 disease developed local recurrence, and one of the four patients with T1-2 disease developed distant metastases. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 85.7% and 47.6%, respectively. The most common adverse events (AEs) were pharyngeal mucositis (100%), radiation dermatitis (100%), anorexia (28.6%), weight loss (28.6%), acneiform rash (28.6%), and dry mouth (28.6%). Grade 3 AEs were pharyngeal mucositis (42.9%), radiation dermatitis (28.6%), and anorexia (14.3%). No grade 4/5 AEs were observed.
CONCLUSION
BRT for NPC was tolerable, but our findings suggest that BRT without induction chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy is insufficient at least for ≥T3 disease.
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