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Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Treatment sequence of cetuximab and immune checkpoint inhibitor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Jong Chul Park1, Julia Durbeck2, John R Clark1
1Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, United States; Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
Objectives:
To examine the impact of treatment sequences of Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and cetuximab on clinical outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Materials And Methods:
Clinicopathologic data were retrospectively collected on patients with R/M HNSCC who received ICI treatment. Association between treatment sequence and clinical outcomes were assessed.
Results:
A total of 113 patients with R/M HNSCC were analyzed. Patients who had cetuximab prior to ICI had worse overall (HR, 1.83) and progression-free survival (HR, 1.76) compare to those without prior cetuximab. Among patients who had subsequent therapy after ICI, cetuximab-based therapy was associated with a trend toward higher response rate and longer survival than non-cetuximab regimen.
Conclusion:
Our single institution analysis showed that treatment sequence of cetuximab and ICI in R/M HNSCC may affect clinical outcomes. Cetuximab prior to ICI was associated with worse outcomes while the efficacy of cetuximab may be enhanced after ICI therapy.
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