Cetuximab in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the first-line treatment of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R&M SCCHN) (EXTREME)

Abstract

5537 Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in nearly all SCCHN and carries a strong prognostic significance, providing the rationale for using EGFR-targeted agents, such as cetuximab, in this indication. This study assesses the efficacy and safety of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy commonly used in the treatment of R&M SCCHN. Methods: Patients (pts) were enrolled into this phase III trial from December 2004 to December 2005 and randomized either to Group A: cetuximab (first dose 400 mg/m2 then 250 mg/m2 weekly) plus a maximum of 6 three-weekly cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m2 IV on day 1) or carboplatin (AUC 5, day 1) and 5-FU (1000 mg/m2/day continuous infusion for the first 4 days of each cycle) or to Group B: cisplatin or carboplatin with 5-FU as before. Cetuximab was administered until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint is overall survival time; secondary endpoints are progression-free-survival, response rate, disease control rate, safety, and Quality of Life. It was planned to randomize a total number of 420 pts in order to detect a difference in improvement in overall survival of 2.5 months. Results: At the end of the recruitment,440 pts have been randomized, to date 320 pts are under treatment, 21 have withdrawn from the study and 99 have completed the study. The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has performed an independent preplanned safety analysis from the first 140 pts, 138 pts of whom were treated. Patients were followed for a minimum of 6 weeks: M/F122/16, median age57 years [range, 38–79],median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) 80 [range, 70–100]. In this safety analysis, there were 14 deaths, none of which were treatment related. The most frequent drug related grade 3–4 toxicity was mainly represented by neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. Conclusions: The DSMB evaluated baseline and safety data, found no reason to stop the trial and recommended continuation of the study. [Table: see text]