Radiotherapy plus Cetuximab for Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
University of Alabama at Birmingham1, University of Wisconsin-Madison2, Autonomous University of Barcelona3, Eli Lilly and Company4, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center5, University of Virginia6, University of the Witwatersrand7, University of Colorado Boulder8, Gdańsk Medical University9, University of Alabama10, Merck KGaA11, ImClone Systems12
09 Feb 2006-The New England Journal of Medicine (Massachusetts Medical Society)-Vol. 354, Iss: 6, pp 567-578
TL;DR: Treatment of locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer with concomitant high-dose radiotherapy plus cetuximab improves locoreGional control and reduces mortality without increasing the common toxic effects associated with radiotherapy to the head andneck.
Abstract: BACKGROUND We conducted a multinational, randomized study to compare radiotherapy alone with radiotherapy plus cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor, in the treatment of locoregionally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS Patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer were randomly assigned to treatment with high-dose radiotherapy alone (213 patients) or high-dose radiotherapy plus weekly cetuximab (211 patients) at an initial dose of 400 mg per square meter of body-surface area, followed by 250 mg per square meter weekly for the duration of radiotherapy. The primary end point was the duration of control of locoregional disease; secondary end points were overall survival, progression-free survival, the response rate, and safety. RESULTS The median duration of locoregional control was 24.4 months among patients treated with cetuximab plus radiotherapy and 14.9 months among those given radiotherapy alone (hazard ratio for locoregional progression or death, 0.68; P = 0.005). With a median follow-up of 54.0 months, the median duration of overall survival was 49.0 months among patients treated with combined therapy and 29.3 months among those treated with radiotherapy alone (hazard ratio for death, 0.74; P = 0.03). Radiotherapy plus cetuximab significantly prolonged progression-free survival (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.70; P = 0.006). With the exception of acneiform rash and infusion reactions, the incidence of grade 3 or greater toxic effects, including mucositis, did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer with concomitant highdose radiotherapy plus cetuximab improves locoregional control and reduces mortality without increasing the common toxic effects associated with radiotherapy to the head and neck. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00004227.)
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TL;DR: The current status of the different approaches and targets that are under evaluation and development for the therapeutic intervention of this key signaling pathway in human disease are summarized.
Abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are key signaling pathways involved in the regulation of normal cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Aberrant regulation of MAPK cascades contribute to cancer and other human diseases. In particular, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) MAPK pathway has been the subject of intense research scrutiny leading to the development of pharmacologic inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. ERK is a downstream component of an evolutionarily conserved signaling module that is activated by the Raf serine/threonine kinases. Raf activates the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)1/2 dual-specificity protein kinases, which then activate ERK1/2. The mutational activation of Raf in human cancers supports the important role of this pathway in human oncogenesis. Additionally, the Raf-MEK-ERK pathway is a key downstream effector of the Ras small GTPase, the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers. Finally, Ras is a key downstream effector of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is mutationally activated and/or overexpressed in a wide variety of human cancers. ERK activation also promotes upregulated expression of EGFR ligands, promoting an autocrine growth loop critical for tumor growth. Thus, the EGFR-Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling network has been the subject of intense research and pharmaceutical scrutiny to identify novel target-based approaches for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the current status of the different approaches and targets that are under evaluation and development for the therapeutic intervention of this key signaling pathway in human disease.
2,635 citations
Cites background from "Radiotherapy plus Cetuximab for Squ..."
...Oncogene one of its major drawbacks is the associated risk of anaphylactic reactions during cetuximab infusion (Cunningham et al., 2004; Bonner et al., 2006)....
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...one of its major drawbacks is the associated risk of anaphylactic reactions during cetuximab infusion (Cunningham et al., 2004; Bonner et al., 2006)....
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...More recently, cetuximab has received additional approval for use in combination with radiation to treat inoperable squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (Bonner et al., 2006)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conducted an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis, which showed that chemotherapy improved survival in patients curatively treated for non-metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), with a higher benefit with concomitant chemotherapy.
2,537 citations
TL;DR: The recent literature on tumour heterogeneity, field cancerization, molecular pathogenesis and the underlying causative cancer genes that can be exploited for novel and personalized treatments of patients with HNSCC are discussed.
Abstract: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption and by infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Tumours often develop within preneoplastic fields of genetically altered cells. The persistence of these fields after treatment presents a major challenge, because it might lead to local recurrences and second primary tumours that are responsible for a large proportion of deaths. Aberrant signalling pathways have been identified in HNSCCs and inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has proved a successful therapeutic strategy. In this Review, we discuss the recent literature on tumour heterogeneity, field cancerization, molecular pathogenesis and the underlying causative cancer genes that can be exploited for novel and personalized treatments of patients with HNSCC.
2,090 citations
Cites background from "Radiotherapy plus Cetuximab for Squ..."
..., finally resulting in a clinical trial that showed increased efficacy of radiotherapy when it was combined with EGFR-specific antibodies to treat patients with HNSC...
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TL;DR: The mechanisms of action of EGFR inhibitors, their anticancer activity, and clinical issues concerning their use in the treatment of patients with cancer are discussed.
Abstract: Functional activation of growth factors and receptors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family occurs in most epithelial-cell cancers, rendering EGFR a target for cancer treatment. This article discusses the mechanisms of action of EGFR inhibitors, their anticancer activity, and clinical issues concerning their use in the treatment of patients with cancer.
1,892 citations
TL;DR: Overall survival was significantly improved in those who experienced an acneiform rash of at least grade 2 severity compared with patients with no rash or grade 1 rash, confirming cetuximab plus radiotherapy as an important treatment option in this group of patients.
Abstract: Summary Background Previous results from our phase 3 randomised trial showed that adding cetuximab to primary radiotherapy increased overall survival in patients with locoregionally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LASCCHN) at 3 years. Here we report the 5-year survival data, and investigate the relation between cetuximabinduced rash and survival. Methods Patients with LASCCHN of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx with measurable disease were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either comprehensive head and neck radiotherapy alone for 6–7 weeks or radiotherapy plus weekly doses of cetuximab: 400 mg/m² initial dose, followed by seven weekly doses at 250 mg/m². Randomisation was done with an adaptive minimisation technique to balance assignments across stratifi cation factors of Karnofsky performance score, T stage, N stage, and radiation fractionation. The trial was un-blinded. The primary endpoint was locoregional control, with a secondary endpoint of survival. Following discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration, the dataset was locked, except for queries to the sites about overall survival, before our previous report in 2006, so that an independent review could be done. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. Following completion of treatment, patients underwent physical examination and radiographic imaging every 4 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months thereafter . The trial is registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00004227. Findings Patients were randomly assigned to receive radiotherapy with (n=211) or without (n=213) cetuximab, and all patients were followed for survival. Updated median overall survival for patients treated with cetuximab and radiotherapy was 49·0 months (95% CI 32·8–69·5) versus 29·3 months (20·6–41·4) in the radiotherapy-alone group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·73, 95% CI 0·56–0·95; p=0·018). 5-year overall survival was 45·6% in the cetuximab-plus-radiotherapy group and 36·4% in the radiotherapy-alone group. Additionally, for the patients treated with cetuximab, overall survival was signifi cantly improved in those who experienced an acneiform rash of at least grade 2 severity compared with patients with no rash or grade 1 rash (HR 0·49, 0·34–0·72; p=0·002). Interpretation For patients with LASCCHN, cetuximab plus radiotherapy signifi cantly improves overall survival at 5 years compared with radiotherapy alone, confi rming cetuximab plus radiotherapy as an important treatment option in this group of patients. Cetuximab-treated patients with prominent cetuximab-induced rash (grade 2 or above) have better survival than patients with no or grade 1 rash.
1,784 citations
References
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17 Sep 2013
TL;DR: Purposes and Principles of Cancer Staging and End-Results Reporting are explained.
Abstract: General Information on Cancer Staging and End-Results Reporting.- Purposes and Principles of Cancer Staging.- Cancer Survival Analysis.- Head and Neck.- Lip and Oral Cavity.- Pharynx.- Larynx.- Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses.- Major Salivary Glands.- Thyroid.- Mucosal Melanoma of the Head and Neck.- Digestive System.- Esophagus and Esophagogastric Junction.- Stomach.- Small Intestine.- Colon and Rectum.- Anus.- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.- Neuroendocrine Tumors.- Liver.- Intrahepatic Bile Ducts.- Gallbladder.- Perihilar Bile Ducts.- Distal Bile Duct.- Ampulla of Vater.- Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreas.- Thorax.- Lung.- Pleural Mesothelioma.- Musculoskeletal Sites.- Bone.- Soft Tissue Sarcoma.- Skin.- Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Other Cutaneous Carcinomas.- Merkel Cell Carcinoma.- Melanoma of the Skin.- Breast.- Breast.- Gynecologic Sites.- Vulva.- Vagina.- Cervix Uteri.- Corpus Uteri.- Ovary and Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma.- Fallopian Tube.- Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors.- Genitourinary Sites.- Penis.- Prostate.- Testis.- Kidney.- Renal Pelvis and Ureter.- Urinary Bladder.- Urethra.- Adrenal.- Ophthalmic Sites.- Carcinoma of the Eyelid.- Carcinoma of the Conjunctiva.- Malignant Melanoma of the Conjunctiva.- Malignant Melanoma of the Uvea.- Retinoblastoma.- Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland.- Sarcoma of the Orbit.- Ocular Adnexal Lymphoma.- Central Nervous System.- Brain and Spinal Cord.- Lymphoid Neoplasms.- Lymphoid Neoplasms.
16,806 citations
TL;DR: This work discusses the significance of these receptors as clinical targets, in particular the molecular mechanisms underlying response, and many ERBB inhibitors used in the clinic.
Abstract: ERBB receptor tyrosine kinases have important roles in human cancer. In particular, the expression or activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and ERBB2 are altered in many epithelial tumours, and clinical studies indicate that they have important roles in tumour aetiology and progression. Accordingly, these receptors have been intensely studied to understand their importance in cancer biology and as therapeutic targets, and many ERBB inhibitors are now used in the clinic. We will discuss the significance of these receptors as clinical targets, in particular the molecular mechanisms underlying response.
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