Long-term remission of locally recurrent oropharyngeal cancer after docetaxel-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ineligible for resection or irradiation, treatment aims primarily at symptom control and quality of life enhancement with an expected outcome of 6-12 months.

METHODS:

In 2005, a male patient, born in 1944, with a second local recurrence of human papillomavirus negative tonsil cancer was enrolled in the EXTREME trial, and randomized to platinum/5-fluorouracil/cetuximab arm resulting in partial remission with progression-free survival of 12 months. The second-line systemic therapy comprised 5 cycles of 3-weekly docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil regimen plus weekly cetuximab.

RESULTS:

As confirmed on imaging and repeated biopsies, complete response was achieved with disease-free survival of 8 years and follow-up period of 12 years. Severe acute toxicities during the taxane-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab included grade 4 anorexia and grade 3 febrile neutropenia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Poor tumor differentiation, no weight loss, oropharyngeal location, white race, and particularly the induced complete response were most likely the key favorable prognostic factors in the reported patient. The possibility of a synergistic interaction between taxanes and cetuximab should be further explored.

• Authors: Petr Szturz, Pol Specenier, Carl Van Laer, Danielle Van Den Weyngaert, Bob Corthouts, Laurens Carp, Eric Van Marck, Olivier Vanderveken, Jan B Vermorken
• Journal: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 273 Issue 6 Pg. 1629-36 (Jun 2016) ISSN: 1434-4726 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 26044403 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Taxoids
• Docetaxel
• Cetuximab
• Cisplatin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Cetuximab (administration & dosage)
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Docetaxel
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage)
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
• Quality of Life
• Remission Induction
• Taxoids (administration & dosage)
• Time Factors
• Tonsillar Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome