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Addition of erlotinib to cisplatin did not increase response, PFS in SCCHN
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The addition of erlotinib to cisplatin radiotherapy did not significantly improve complete response rates or PFS in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, according to results of a randomized phase 2 study.
Preclinical data suggested erlotinib (Tarceva; Genentech, Astellas) could be synergistic with both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, according to background information in the study.
Researchers randomly assigned 204 patients with locally advanced SCCHN to two arms. Patients in arm A received cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on days 1, 22 and 43 combined with 70 Gy of radiotherapy. Patients in arm B received the same chemoradiotherapy regimen with 150 mg daily erlotinib 1 week before radiotherapy and continued to completion.
Complete response rate served as the primary outcome measure. PFS served as the secondary outcome measure.
Adverse events were similar between the arms, demonstrating that erlotinib can be added safely to cisplatin and radiotherapy; however, the addition of erlotinib did not improve outcomes.
Researchers observed no differences in PFS between the two arms (HR=0.9; P=.71). The complete response rates were 40% among patients in arm A and 52% among patients in arm B (P=.08).
Adverse events were similar between the arms, according to researchers.
Renato G. Martins
The study confirmed the excellent prognosis of patients with oropharyngeal tumors associated with HPV infection, the researchers said.
“There is no role for adding EGFR targeting to chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced SCCHN,” Renato G. Martins, MD, MPH, endowed chair in cancer care and associate medical director of nontransplant adult oncology at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, told HemOnc Today.
EGFR targeting as an alternative to full-dose cisplatin in select populations remains an area of investigation, Martins and colleagues wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers report consultant fees from Genentech and XCENDA AmerisourceBergen Consulting Services; honoraria from Genentech and Intuitive Surgical; and research funding from Genentech and OSI Pharmaceuticals.
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