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Incidence of dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients treated with primary radiotherapy and cetuximab

Inzidenz von Dermatitis bei Patienten mit Tumoren der Kopf-Hals-Region unter einer primären Strahlentherapie in Kombination mit Cetuximab

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Purpose:

To retrospectively assess the incidence of radiation dermatitis in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who received primary radiotherapy in combination with cetuximab in a curative intent.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 112 consecutively treated patients who received cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy at the Departments of Radiotherapy at the Medical University in Vienna and the Hospital Hietzing (Vienna) were analyzed. Radiotherapy was administered either as conventional radiotherapy (70 Gy in 7 weeks) or using a concomitant boost protocol (72 Gy in 6 weeks). The incidence of dermatitis and mucositis within the radiation portals in 103 eligible patients was compared with a historical control group treated at the Medical University of Vienna as well as with published data.

Results:

The incidence of grade 1/2, 3, and 4 dermatitis was 57%, 29%, and 1% in the radiotherapy plus cetuximab treated collective. The incidence of grade 1/2, 3, and 4 mucositis was 37%, 47%, and 4%, respectively. The incidence of grade 3 dermatitis during concurrent radiotherapy plus cetuximab was 29% in our patient collective. Only one case of grade 4 dermatitis was observed.

Conclusion:

These results do not statistically differ significantly from the incidence reported in the Bonner trial and indicate that cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy is well tolerated.

Ziel:

Retrospektive Prüfung der Inzidenz der Strahlendermatitis bei Patienten mit lokal fortgeschrittenen nicht-resektablen Tumoren der Kopf-Hals-Region, die eine primäre Radiotherapie in Kombination mit Cetuximab in kurativer Intention erhielten.

Patienten und Methodik:

Insgesamt wurden 112 konsekutiv behandelte Patienten analysiert, die Cetuximab in Kombination mit Radiotherapie an den Abteilungen für Strahlentherapie der Medizinischen Universität Wien und des Krankenhauses Hietzing (Wien) erhielten. Die Strahlentherapie bestand entweder aus einer konventionellen Radiotherapie (70 Gy in 7 Wochen) oder aus einem konkomitanten Boost-Protokoll (72 Gy in 6 Wochen). Die Inzidenz an Dermatitis und Mukositis innerhalb der Bestrahlungsfelder wurde von 103 auswertbaren Patienten ermittelt und mit einer historischen Kontrollgruppe der Medizinischen Universität Wien wie auch mit publizierten Daten verglichen.

Ergebnisse:

Die Inzidenz von Grad-1/2-, -3- und -4-Dermatitis betrug jeweils 57%, 29% und 1% in der Radiotherapie-plus-Cetuximab-Gruppe. Die Inzidenz an Grad-1/2-, -3- und -4-Mukositis betrug jeweils 37%, 47% und 4%. Die Inzidenz von Grad-3-Dermatitis während einer konkomitanten Radiotherapie und Cetuximab betrug 29% in unserem Patientenkollektiv. Nur ein Fall einer Grad-4-Dermatitis wurde beobachtet.

Schlussfolgerung:

Die Ergebnisse unterscheiden sich in statistischer Weise nicht signifikant von der in der Bonner-Studie publizierten Inzidenz und weisen darauf hin, dass Cetuximab in Kombination mit Bestrahlung gut vertragen wird.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Edgar Selzer, Susanne Liederer, Christiane Lemaire, Dejan Radonjic, Richard Pötter & Barbara Bachtiary

  2. Department of Radiotherapy, Hospital Hietzing, Vienna, Austria

    Gerhard Kren & Thomas Knocke

  3. Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Gabriela Kornek

  4. Universitätsklinik für Strahlentherapie, AKH-MUW Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Austria

    Edgar Selzer

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  1. Edgar Selzer
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Correspondence to Edgar Selzer.

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Selzer, E., Liederer, S., Lemaire, C. et al. Incidence of dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients treated with primary radiotherapy and cetuximab. Strahlenther Onkol 187, 373–377 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-011-2217-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-011-2217-7

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