Abstract 2582: Gefitinib [epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor] plus etoricoxib (COX-2 inhibitor) versus oral methotrexate in advanced, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): results of a randomized pilot study

Abstract

Abstract Background: There are very few options for the treatment of patients of SCCHN who relapse after surgery and/or radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy other than best supportive care (BSC). Over expression of the EGFR has been demonstrated in more than 80% of patients with SCCHN. In the present study, we compared the response rates, overall survival, toxicity profile and quality of life in patients of recurrent SCCHN receiving oral methotrexate versus a combination of EGFR inhibitor (Gefitinib) + COX II inhibitor (Etoricoxib). Patients and Methods: Twenty five patients of Advanced and Recurrent HNSCC were included in each group. Patients were randomly assigned to receive Gefitinib (250 mg twice a day before meals) plus Etoricoxib (120 mg/day) [Group A] or Oral Methotrexate (15 mg/week) [Group B]. All patients received BSC. Patients were follow-up 4 weekly with routine blood investigations and quality of life questionnaires - QLQ C-30 and QLQ H & N-35. CT scan of Head and Neck was done every 8 weeks. EGFR mutation studies were not performed. Results : Partial Response (PR) was seen in 6.25% of patients in group-A; and 0% from group-B. Stable Disease (SD) observed in 25% of patients from group-A and 10% patients from group-B. At the end of study, mean overall survival (OS) in group-A was 107.15 days; whereas mean overall survival in group-B was 73.95 days. The difference in survival was statistically significant (P<0.05). Comparing the QOL between two groups by EORTC QLQ C-30 and EORTC H & N-35 at 4 and 8 weeks, patients of group-A had better quality of life. No dose-limiting toxicities were seen in group-A or B. Most common toxicity observed in group A were skin rash and diarrhoea while on group B it was mucositits. Conclusions: In this small pilot study, in patients with advanced and recurrent SCCHN, dual targeted treatment (EGFR and COX II) with combination of Gefitinib plus Etoricoxib improved response rates, quality of life and overall survival as compared to oral methotrexate. The combination was well tolerated with minor side-effects and should be considered in this poor prognostic subset of patients. Larger, multi-centric studies are needed to confirm these results. Citation Format: Hemant Malhotra, Archit Joshi, Sandeep Jasuja, Ajay Yadav. Gefitinib [epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor] plus etoricoxib (COX-2 inhibitor) versus oral methotrexate in advanced, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): results of a randomized pilot study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2582. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2582