Docetaxel (DOC) with concurrent radiation (CRT) and bevacizumab (BEV) or erlotinib (ERL) for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN).

Abstract

6070 Background: Cisplatin (CIS) may not be the optimal radiosensitizer when combined with targeted agents in CRT regimens. RTOG 0234, a randomized phase II trial of postoperative radiation (RT) plus DOC or CIS plus cetuximab for high-risk LA-HNSCC showed an impressive improvement in overall survival and disease-free survival of DOC versus CIS (79% versus 69% and 66% versus 57% respectively). DOC-based CRT backbone regimens are worth further study in the organ preservation setting. To facilitate and accelerate evaluation of additional targeted agents, we summarized our experience in DOC-based chemo-RT using two consecutive phase II clinical trials with either BEV or ERL. Methods: 73 patients with LA-SCCHN (stage III- IVb) treated with RT (70 or 70.2-72Gy, 1.8-2Gy/day), weekly DOC (20 mg/m2) and targeted therapy [BEV (5 mg/kg/qow) or ERL (150 mg/day)] were included. DOC dose was based on a phase I clinical trial of RT + DOC + ERL (Savvides P. Phase I study of ERL, DOC and RT in LA-SCCHN. AACR 2007.). Resul...