Clinical outcomes of cetuximab‐based treatment for distant metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A real‐world study using Taiwan Head Neck Society registry database

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 1063 - 1073
• Main Authors: Lu, Hsueh‐Ju, Hsieh, Meng‐Che, Wang, Hung‐Ming, Hsieh, Jason Chia‐Hsun, Yen, Chia‐Jui, Wu, Shang‐Yin, Huang, Huai‐Cheng, Wang, Hui‐Ching, Chu, Pen‐Yuan, Chen, Tien‐Hua, Chien, Chih‐Yen, Huang, Tai‐Lin, Chang, Yi‐Fang, Hua, Chun‐Hung, Lien, Ming‐Yu, Chen, Jo‐Pai, Lu, Wei‐Chen, Lin, Jin‐Ching, Wang, Chen‐Chi, Liu, Yi‐Chun, Yang, Muh‐Hwa, Lou, Pei‐Jen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.05.2024; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Albumin; Albumins; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; biomarkers; cetuximab; Cetuximab - therapeutic use; distant metastasis; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck carcinoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Humans; L-Lactate dehydrogenase; lactate dehydrogenase; Metastases; Monoclonal antibodies; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - pathology; Oral cavity; Patients; Prognosis; Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - drug therapy; Taiwan; Targeted cancer therapy; Taiwan; lactate dehydrogenase; cetuximab; biomarkers; distant metastasis; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.27681
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347

Background For R/M HNSCC, the differences in prognosis and treatment options between distant metastasis (DM) and locoregional recurrence, especially in the DM group, remain unclear. Methods From the Taiwan Head Neck Society registry database, patients who were diagnosed with R/M HNSCC and received cetuximab‐based frontline therapy were collected for analysis. Results Among the enrolled patients, 59.3% (491/827) belonged to the DM group. The DM group had less primary site of oral cavity, less betel nut chewing, higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and higher LDH/albumin ratio compared with the non‐DM group. For the patients with primary site of oral cavity and current smokers, DM coexisted with poorer outcomes. In the DM group, EXTREME‐like regimen was more suitable for older patients, those with elevated LDH, and those with higher LDH/albumin ratio than TPExtreme‐like regimen. Conclusion DM coexisted with poorer prognosis in certain groups. LDH‐associated biomarkers may aid treatment options for DM patients.