Combined taxane, platinum, and cetuximab as a first‐line treatment for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Retrospective study

• Published in: Head & neck 2022-09, Vol.44 (9), p.2040-2045
• Main Authors: Liu, Yizhen, Xue, Liqiong, Xia, Zuguang, Zhang, Qunling, Guo, Ye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carboplatin; cetuximab; Chemotherapy; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck carcinoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Metastases; Monoclonal antibodies; Neutropenia; Paclitaxel; Patients; platinum; Platinum compounds; retrospective study; Squamous cell carcinoma; Targeted cancer therapy; taxane; Taxanes; Toxicity
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.27085

Background There is limited evidence supporting the use of taxane‐based chemotherapy combined with cetuximab to treat recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). This retrospective study aimed to explore treatment efficacy and safety in a first‐line setting. Methods Fifty‐nine patients received ≤6 cycles of combined cetuximab, platinum compounds, and taxane (median follow‐up, 352 days). Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed. Results The median patient age was 54 years (23–75 years; 50 males and 9 females). The most common distant metastatic site was the lung. Patients received ≥2 cycles chemotherapy (33 [55.9%] received cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin; 21 [35.5%] received cetuximab maintenance; median progression‐free survival, 7 months; overall survival, 12 months). The most common hematological toxicity was Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, which was successfully managed through growth‐stimulating factors and dose modifications. No treatment‐associated deaths occurred. Conclusions Combined cetuximab, platinum, and taxane is effective and tolerable in R/M HNSCC.