Outcome of recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer patients after first line platinum and cetuximab therapy

OBJECTIVES: Second-line chemotherapy in recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer (r/mHNSCC) patients showed dismal results with limited tumor response and reduced life expectancy. Outside of clinical trials, data on efficacy of second line treatment after first line anti-EGFR-AB combination therapy are not available. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data regarding r/mHNSCC consecutive pts treated with cetuximab and platinum from 2009 to 2014 at our center were retrospectively collected. The analyses of response, Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS), each evaluated starting from first and second-line treatment, were performed. Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: We identified 117 patients treated with first-line platinum and cetuximab-based therapy. Sixty-four (55%) patients did not receive second-line treatment due to worsening in performance status, 2 were not assessable for response thus 51 patients were included for analysis. Fifty-six percent were smokers/former smokers and 78% were male. Primary tumor sites were oropharynx (39%), oral cavity (31%), larynx/hypopharynx (24%) and others (6%). Regimens used in second-line were mostly monotherapies. Twenty-one % of the patients were treated within a clinical trial. Response rate (PR, CR) was 6% with 45% showing SD as best response. Median PFS was 2.2months (95%CI:1.5-2.8months) and OS 6.1months (95%CI:3.7-7.2months). CONCLUSIONS: Within our single center experience only half of the patients with r/mHNSCC were able to receive second-line treatment. Response rate was unsatisfactory, but median OS seems higher than previously reported in an anti-EGFR-AB naïve population (Leon 2005).