Anti EGFR therapy in the treatment of non-metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: The current evidence.

Anti EGFR therapy in the treatment of non-metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: The current evidence. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst. 2016 May 6; Authors: Benson R, Mallick S, Julka PK, Rath GK Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) accounts for a large oncologic burden in the developing countries. In patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer multimodality treatment is warranted. Radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy has long been considered the standard for patients with disease involving the oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx. However, addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy increases treatment related toxicity by many folds and compliance rates decrease. In this context a systemic therapy, which when used concurrent with radiation with favorable toxicity profile is of great importance for improving disease control in locally advanced HNSCC. Anti-epithelial growth factor receptor targeted therapy emerged as a potential treatment option. In recent years many trials were conducted to find the optimum treatment option with the combination of these targeted agents. The initial trials showed excellent results with minimal morbidity and led to great enthusiasm across the globe to incorporate these regimens as a standard of care. However, subsequently many trials failed to maintain such results and now there is little agreement to the initial results achieved with these drugs. Based on the current e...
Source: J Egypt Natl Canc In... - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: J Egypt Natl Canc Inst Source Type: research