Alvydas Česas, Aista Plieskienė, Jolanta Česienė, Jurga Kanišauskaitė

Abstract

This is a first analysis of cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer treatment process in western part of Lithuania. We observed and respectively analyzed patients treated concomitantly with cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy since 2011. Previously untreated patients with III to IV larynx/oro/hyphoparyngis squamous cell carcinoma received Cetuximab one week before start of concomitant bioradiotherapy and 6 cycles concomitantly with radical radiotherapy. First experience of the toxicity profile due to the radical bioradiotherapy was analyzed in this study. Head and neck carcinoma patients are predisposed to infections due to risk factors such as malnutrition, comorbidity, imunocompromission, life-style. In some cases healthcare associated infections caused prolonged hospitalization, treatment interruption. Skin reactions developed in al patients treated with bioradiotherapy and mainly presented as akne-like rash, dry skin, desquamation and nail disorders. More than one third of the skin reactions were severe, but no cases of skin necrosis were observed. The majority of skin reactions developed within the first three weeks of bioradiotherapy. Oral mucositis, pain and xerostomia were significantly reduced at the end of radiotherapy as compared to those during radiotherapy, following the anti-infectious treatment and prophylaxis. Conclusion: Cetuximab, added to radiotherapy, induce skin reactions mainly presented as akne-like rash, dry skin, desquamation but did not increase the severity of oral mucositis, pain and xerostomia, in head and neck cancer patients, with limitations of the study design and its limited number of patients.

doi:10.5200/sm-hs.2013.069

Keyword(s): bioradiotherapy-head and neck cancer-cetuximab-mucositis-xerostomia
DOI: 10.5200/sm-hs.2013.069
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