Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and cetuximab in head and neck cancer – 33rd ESMO Congress, Stockholm

Their trial in 45 patients combined chemotherapy with fluorouracil and carboplatin given on weeks 1, 4 and 7 of treatment, with radiotherapy administered daily on weeks 2-3, 5-6 and 8-10.

Cetuximab was also added weekly. “Both complete response rate and long-term results compare favorably with the best reported in the literature,” Dr. Marco Merlano from the S. Croce General Hospital in Cuneo reports.

30 patients experienced a skin toxicity that the authors attribute to an interaction between the treatments, and 2 patients died from toxicities, they report.

About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is the leading European non-profit, professional organization for medical oncology promoting multidisciplinary cancer treatment around the world. ESMO unites medical oncologists, oncology specialists, healthcare professionals, caregivers, patients and policy makers in a global alliance committed to eradicating cancer and ensuring equal access to high quality treatment for all patients. Thanks to its state-of-the-art education and training programs, ESMO plays an instrumental role in providing the oncology community with the most up-to-date scientific research and information available. ESMO is dedicated to educating and supporting oncologists, optimizing patient care, disseminating cancer-specific information to the public, and advocating patient rights. As an authoritative voice in the fight against cancer, ESMO provides both the platform and the consultative expertise to influence national and international organizations as well as European authorities, in order to establish common standards for a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment. Through its flagship journal, Annals of Oncology, ESMO publishes articles on all aspects of clinical oncology.