Abstract:

Objective    To evaluate the clinical efficacy of cetuximab combined with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy on recurrent advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Methods    6 patients with recurrent advanced head and neck carcinoma，including 2 larnyngeal carcinoma, 1 hypopharyngeal carcinoma, 1 hypopharyngeal carcinoma with lung metastasis and 2 stomal recurrence, were treated with cetuximab combined with postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Cetuximab was administered at an initial dose of 400mg/m2 in the first week followed by weekly injection of 250mg/m2. All the patients received a total dose of 60Gyradiation(2Gy per fraction, 5 fractions per week ) and concurrent chemotherapy(cisplatin 80mg/m2 d1 and 5-Fu 800mg/m2 per week with 120 hour continuous intravenous injection). Results    All the patients completed the designated treatment. The primary side effects consisted of acne-like rash, stomatitis, and asthenia. All patients survived after 10 months of median followup time, and no progression and metastasis occurred. Conclusion     Cetuximab combined with postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy is efficient and safe for the management of recurrent advanced carcinoma of head and neck, however, a further largescale clinical trial is necessary.

Key words: Cetuximab ; Recurrent carcinoma of head and neck ; Concurrent chemoradiotherapy ; Efficacy ; Toxicities