Examination of the Acute Adverse Event in Cetuximab with Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate any acute adverse effects of cetuximab with radiotherapy (bioradiotherapy: BRT) on head and neck compare a to radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy (CRT, using CBDCA, CDDP, TPF therapy) for head and neck cancer.Materials and Methods: We treated 18 patients (13 men and 5 women) with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, or hypopharynx. The median age was 64.4 years (range, 43–80 years). Patients received BRT (cetuximab: first time, 400 mg/m2/day, second time, 250 mg/m2/day). The neutrophil cell count, weight loss, stomatitis and dermatitis were compared to CRT.Results: There was no significant difference in the incidences of weight loss in BRT compared with radiotherapy (P=0.71) and chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA: P=0.71, CDDP: P=0.36, TPF therapy: P=0.36). There was no significant difference in decrease of the neutrophil cell count in BRT compared with radiotherapy (P=0.06). There were statistically significant decreases of the neutrophil cell count in BRT and chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA: P=0.02, CDDP: P=0.05, TPF therapy: P=0.005). There were no significant differences in the incidences of stomatitis in BRT compared with radiotherapy (P=0.13) and chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA: P=0.10, CDDP: P=0.19). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of stomatitis in BRT compared with chemoradiotherapy (TPF: P=0.03). There were no significant differences in the incidences of dermatitis in BRT compared with radiotherapy (P=0.89) and chemoradiotherapy (CDDP: P=0.14, TPF: P=0.53). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidences of dermatitis in BRT compared with chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA: P=0.03).Conclusion: The frequency of acute adverse event of BRT and radiotherapy was the same. BRT was more safe compared with another form of chemoradiotherapy.