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

Abstract

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. Fifty-nine patients received ≤6 cycles of combined cetuximab, platinum compounds, and taxane (median follow-up, 352 days). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed. 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, 7months; 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. Combined cetuximab, platinum, and taxane is effective and tolerable in R/M HNSCC.