Comparison of every 3 week cisplatin or weekly cetuximab with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer

•We compared outcomes with concurrent cisplatin and cetuximab and RT in LAHNC patients.•There was no difference in locoregional control or survival between the groups.•There was also found no difference in dysphagia toxicity between the groups.•Both therapies are reasonable treatments until prospective data is available.

SummaryBackgroundCisplatin dosed every 3 weeks (CIS) or weekly cetuximab (CTX) concurrent with radiotherapy are standards of care for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNC). Retrospective comparisons of CIS and CTX have offered mixed conclusions. We compared outcomes between CIS and CTX in this patient population.MethodsBetween January 2006 and December 2011, we identified 279 patients who underwent definitive radiotherapy and concurrent systemic therapy for LAHNC. The median age difference between the CIS and CTX groups was relatively small (58 vs. 62 years, respectively) and CIS patients had a slightly higher rate of N2 disease than CTX patients (74% vs. 61%, respectively).ResultsMedian follow-up was 27 months. Systemic therapy consisted of CIS in 241 (86.4%) and CTX in 38 (13.6%). Actuarial locoregional control of the CIS and CTX groups at 2 years were 91% and 90% (p = 0.74), respectively. Actuarial 2 year distant metastasis rates between the groups were 8% and 12%, respectively (p = 0.55), and actuarial 2 year overall survival between the groups were 87% and 89%, respectively (p = 0.47).ConclusionsWe found no difference in locoregional control, distant metastasis rate, or overall survival between patients treated with concurrent CIS or CTX.