A retrospective analysis of patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation, hyperthermia, and cetuximab: A brief report of outcome.

OBJECTIVE

Advanced head and neck cancer continues to have a dismal outcome. Chemoradiation remains the current standard of care. Chemoradiation has not achieved the desired increase in survival in locally advanced head and neck cancer. This is a retrospective analysis of six patients treated with hyperthermia, radiation therapy, and cetuximab. We wished to determine if this combination treatment would further improve the outcome.

METHODS

Six patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck region were treated with hyperthermia, cetuximab, and radiation therapy. The end points assessed were acute toxicity and immediate response.

RESULTS

All the six patients received the planned doses of cetuximab and radiation therapy. Two patients did not complete the planned hyperthermia sessions. All patients developed mucositis and acneiform rashes. None had thermal burns. One hundred percent complete response was observed in all the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Addition of hyperthermia to cetuximab and radiation therapy is feasible and shows impressive response rates with manageable toxicity profile. Further studies evaluating the same are needed to confirm these findings.