Cetuximab in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland carcinomas: A phase II study

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 574 - 578
• Main Authors: Locati, L.D, Bossi, P, Perrone, F, Potepan, P, Crippa, F, Mariani, L, Casieri, P, Orsenigo, M, Losa, M, Bergamini, C, Liberatoscioli, C, Quattrone, P, Calderone, R.G, Rinaldi, G, Pilotti, S, Licitra, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - metabolism; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - secondary; Cetuximab; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Male; Medical sciences; Metastatic disease; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - drug therapy; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - genetics; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - metabolism; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Palliative Care - methods; Palliative treatment; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Retrospective Studies; Salivary gland cancer; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - drug therapy; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - genetics; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - metabolism; Target therapy; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Young Adult; Metastatic disease; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Palliative treatment; Cetuximab; Salivary gland cancer; Target therapy; Antineoplastic agent; Relapse; Stomatology; Salivary gland; ENT; Malignant tumor; Metastasis; Immunomodulator; Salivary gland disease; Cancerology; ENT disease; Head and neck cancer; Cancer
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2008.07.010

Summary EGFR overexpression in salivary gland carcinomas provides the rational for the investigation of anti-EGFR treatments in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancers (RMSGCs). The activity of cetuximab in terms of clinical benefit rate (CBR) defined as the occurrence of objective response (CR or PR) or stable disease (SD) for ⩾6 months was investigated. From April to December 2005, 30 patients [23 adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and 7 non-ACC] were treated with cetuximab at 400 mg/m2 /week followed by 250 mg/m2 /week until progression, major toxicity or voluntary discontinuation. EGFR expression and gene status were retrospectively analyzed by immunocytochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, respectively. A median of 14 courses of cetuximab (range 5–54) were infused. Skin toxicity was the main adverse event. Cetuximab provides a CBR in 50% (95% CL, 31 to 69%) of cases. None tumor sample showed EGFR gene amplification and an increased EGFR copy number was observed in 12% of samples, all ACC. Skin rash ⩾G2, EGFR overexpression and EGFR copy number were not statistically correlated to CB. In RMSGCs further evaluations of EGFR targeting agents are advisable and should take place by appropriate tumor biological selection, differentiating ACC from non-ACC.