Radiotherapy + cetuximab significantly improve disease control and survival in head and n...( ne arm. Loco-regional control was also ...),Health

ne arm. Loco-regional control was also improved by cetuximab with radiotherapy: increasing from 59% - 69% at one year and from 48% - 56% at two years. "This is proof that drugs coming from the laboratory can be used to cure more patients", said Dr. Giralt.

Overall toxicity resulting from the combined treatment was dominated by recognised side effects of high dose head and neck irradiation e.g. mucositis (inflammation of the mucous membranes) and skin reactions. Treatment with cetuximab and radiotherapy in combination did raise the incidence of grade 3-4 skin reaction from 18% to 34% but the risk of grade 3-4 mucositis remained similar in both treatment arms. Cetuximab also carried a low (3%) risk of allergic reaction. "The substantial clinical benefit of this combination treatment can therefore be achieved with minimal enhancement of the toxicity we would expect to find associated with high dose radiotherapy alone", explained Dr. Giralt.

"These results are extremely promising and represent a major step forward in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck," said Dr. Giralt. "This combination treatment should be explored in other common epithelial malignancies that demonstrate EGFR overexpression in which radiotherapy plays a central role".

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Contact: Stuart Bell
stuart@fecs.be
32-2-775-0207
Federation of European Cancer Societies
26-Oct-2004

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