Neoadjuvant Cetuximab Plus Chemo May Be Effective for Unresectable Squamous Cell Carcinomas

According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, researchers have found that neoadjuvant cetuximab in combination with a platinum salt and fluorouracil show good response in elderly patients with unresectable locally advanced non-melanoma skin cancer.

For the study, researchers enrolled 34 patients with a diagnosis of unresectable locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with a median age of 74.5 years between 2008 and 2013. Of those, 25 patients received neoadjuvant cetuximab plus a platinum salt and fluorouracil.

Researchers found that after 3 cycles of the drug combination, 92% of patients whose tumors were initially unresectable were now able to undergo surgery to remove the tumors.

Results showed a complete histological response in 65.3% of patients. The median overall survival in patients who underwent surgery was 26 months and the median progression-free survival was 8.5 months.

The findings suggest that neoadjuvant cetuximab plus a platinum salt and fluorouracil may be effective for tumor control and tumor resection in these elderly patients, but the authors note that this regimen must be further investigated in a prospective randomized trial.

Reference

1. Reigneau M, Robert C, Routier E, et al. Efficacy of neoadjuvant cetuximab alone or with platinum salt and fluorouracil for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. Br J Dermatol. 2015. [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13741.