A new horizon in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies as novel options

Cetuximab, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody, has been shown to have greater survival benefits as an adjunct to radiotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN) as well as a combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic SCCHN (R/M-SCCHN). Based on this conclusive evidence from phase II/III studies, its use for these indications has been approved in many countries and is recommended by the NCCN guideline 2012. Several other drugs in the same class, including panitumumab and nimotuzumab, are now under development for the treatment of SCCHN. Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies are known to cause adverse reactions typically associated with EGFR blockade, against which effective countermeasures have been developed. How to identify likely responders and how to overcome resistance to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies are two important challenges for the future. (author)