Published in:
Open Access
29-01-2024 | Cetuximab | Original Research Article
Cetuximab Treatment beyond Progression in Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Nationwide Population-Based Study (THNS-2021-08)
Authors:
Hung-Ming Wang, Pei-Jen Lou, Muh-Hwa Yang, Tein-Hua Chen, Ming-Yu Lien, Jin-Ching Lin, Jo-Pai Chen, Wei-Chen Lu, Hsueh-Ju Lu, Tai-Lin Huang, Chia-Jui Yen, Shang-Yin Wu, Hui-Ching Wang, Meng-Che Hsieh
Published in:
Targeted Oncology
|
Issue 1/2024
Login to get access
Abstract
Background
Little is known regarding the association of cetuximab treatment beyond progression (TBP) with survival among patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now considered as first-line treatment, not all patients are suitable for ICIs.
Objective
We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study to evaluate the role of cetuximab TBP in patients with R/M HNSCC after failure of first-line cetuximab-containing chemotherapy.
Patients and Methods
Patients with R/M HNSCC who had tumor progression after first-line cetuximab-containing chemotherapy were included into our study. Oncologic outcomes were estimated including time to cetuximab treatment discontinuation (TTD), progression-free survival 2 (PFS2), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR). Multivariate cox regression analysis with survival were conducted. Subgroup analysis with P16 and programmed death ligand 1 expression were performed.
Results
A total of 498 patients were eligible with 259 patients in the TBP group and 239 patients in the non-TBP group. The most common first-line chemotherapy was the EXTREME regimen in both groups. As for second-line treatment, the most common regimen were TPEx in the TBP group and taxane-based chemotherapy in the non-TBP group. Median TTD was 8.7 months in TBP and 5.5 months in non-TBP (p < 0.001). In terms of survival, median OS1 was significant longer in the TBP group than in the non-TBP group [14.1 months versus 10.9 months (p = 0.016)]. Multivariate analysis demonstrated cetuximab TBP was a factor independently associated with OS.
Conclusions
Our retrospective study suggests cetuximab TBP to be effective and to provide better survival for patients with R/M HNSCC after failure of first-line cetuximab-containing chemotherapy. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate the role of cetuximab TBP in R/M HNSCC.