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Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with cetuximab in vulnerable elderly patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the objective response after hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) combined with cetuximab (HFBRT) in vulnerable elderly patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Vulnerable elderly patients with histologically proven HNSCC received HFRT (total dose 60 Gy, 3 Gy/fraction) with concurrent cetuximab (250 mg/m2 with a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 1 week before HFRT). Elderly patients were categorized as vulnerable based on mini-cog test and adult comorbidity evaluation-27 score. All patients completed the programmed HFRT and two patients received the planned cetuximab infusion. Severe acute toxicity, observed in four patients, was gastrointestinal (oral mucositis in four cases; nausea/vomiting in one case) and dermatological (acneiform eruption in three cases; radiation dermatitis in one case). Three serious adverse events were recorded in three out of six patients Overall, three patients had a partial response and three patients had progression disease 3 months after the end of the treatment. No complete response was observed. HFBRT seems to be not a safer alternative approach for vulnerable elderly patients with locally advanced HNSCC. Further prospective trials are needed to define better tumor control with less incidence of toxic effects in vulnerable elderly HNSCC patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 326, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Francesca De Felice, Luigia Vetrone, Nadia Bulzonetti, Rossella Caiazzo, Francesco Marampon, Daniela Musio & Vincenzo Tombolini

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  1. Francesca De Felice
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  2. Luigia Vetrone
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  3. Nadia Bulzonetti
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  4. Rossella Caiazzo
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  5. Francesco Marampon
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  6. Daniela Musio
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  7. Vincenzo Tombolini
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Correspondence to Francesca De Felice.

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De Felice, F., Vetrone, L., Bulzonetti, N. et al. Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with cetuximab in vulnerable elderly patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Med Oncol 36, 68 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-019-1292-y

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