Cetuximab Ineffective for Head and Neck Carcinoma

Stage III and IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is treated with concurrent cisplatin and radiation. In certain cases, induction chemotherapy or cetuximab concurrent with radiation therapy can be used. However, 5-year survival still hovers around 50%.

To determine whether adding cisplatin to cetuximab plus concurrent radiation therapy improves survival in this setting, investigators conducted a phase III randomized trial involving 891 patients with stage III and IV (T2N2–3M0 or T3–4NanyM0) HNSCC (oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx). Patients received cisplatin (100 mg/m² on days 1 and 22) plus concurrent radiotherapy with or without cetuximab (loading dose, 400 mg/m² the week before radiation, then 250 mg/m² weekly during radio…