Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2025
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Evaluating Cetuximab Regimens in Head and Neck Cancer: Insights from a Retrospective Cohort Study
Chih-Chun Wang1,2, Shyh-An Yeh3,4, Wen-Hui Chen5,6
1Department of Otolaryngology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan.
Background/Objectives:
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of cetuximab combination therapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer treated at a hospital in Southern Taiwan.
Methods:
This study analyzed a retrospective cohort of 67 patients who were treated between January 2020 and May 2024 with two cetuximab regimens, cetuximab combined with cisplatin and 5-Fu, which were administered every four weeks during hospitalization (CPF4) and every two weeks as outpatient treatment (CPF2), respectively. The clinical outcomes, including overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS), were compared across the treatment regimens and age groups using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models.
Results:
The median overall survival was 11.1 months (95% confidence interval, 7.8-14.5), with CPF2 showing a potential PFS advantage in patients aged 46-60 years (p = 0.049). No significant differences in overall survival were observed between CPF2 and CPF4. CPF2, which was administered in an outpatient setting, was associated with improved convenience, reduced hospitalization, and potentially lower risks of hospital-acquired infections.
Conclusions:
CPF2 exhibits practical advantages and comparable effectiveness, making it the preferred treatment regimen for eligible patients. Further studies with larger populations and molecular stratifications are needed to confirm these findings and develop better treatment strategies.
