• B B Y Ma, KamM K MMKMState Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute. The Chinese University of Hong Kong., S F Leung, E P Hui, A D King, S L Chan, F Mo, H Loong, B K H Yu, A Ahuja, and ChanA T CATCState Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute. The Chinese University of Hong Kong..
• State Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute. The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Electronic address: brigette@clo.cuhk.edu.hk.
• Ann. Oncol. 2012 May 1; 23 (5): 1287-1292.

BackgroundBased on our previous work on the clinical activity of cetuximab in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), we evaluated the feasibility of adding cetuximab to concurrent cisplatin and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in locoregionally advanced NPC.Patients And MethodsPatients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III-IVB NPC were given an initial dose of cetuximab (400 mg/m(2)) 7-10 days before receiving concurrent IMRT, weekly cisplatin (30 mg/m(2)/week) and cetuximab (250 mg/m(2)/week).ResultsThirty patients (median age of 45 years) with stage III (67%), IVA (30%) and IVB (3%) nonkeratinizing NPC were enrolled. Grade 3-4 oropharyngeal mucositis occurred in 26 (87%) patients and 10 (33%) patients required short-term nasogastric feeding. Grade 3 radiotherapy-related dermatitis occurred in six patients (20%) and three patients (10%) had grade 3 cetuximab-related acneiform rash. These grade 3-4 skin and mucosal toxic effects were manageable and reversible. At a median follow-up of 31.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 26.2-32.1 months], the 2-year progression-free survival was 86.5% (95% CI 74.3% to 98.8%).ConclusionsConcurrent administration of cetuximab, weekly cisplatin and IMRT is a feasible strategy against locoregionally advanced NPC. Preliminary survival data compare favorably with historic data and further follow-up is warranted.

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