First-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy prolongs survival in head and neck cancer

European researchers have reported that adding cetuximab to a first-line chemotherapy regimen that includes cisplatin or carboplatn significantly prolongs survival in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in data presented at this years’ American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting in Chicago.

In this Phase III study, patients received cetuximab plus cisplatin or carboplatin and 5-fluoruracil (cetuximab group), or cisplatin or carboplatin plus 5-fluoruracil (control group). Median overall survival was significantly longer in the cetuximab group, compared with the control group (10.1 months vs. 7.4 months).

Author’s conclusions: ‘The addition of cetuximab to standard chemotherapy results in a clinically meaningful survival benefit. The observed median survival time of 10.1 months is among the longest ever reported in a phase III trial for these patients. Analysis of secondary endpoints is ongoing.’

Source: to be provided when available