Cetuximab and bevacizumab: preclinical data and phase II trial in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck cancer
Annals of Oncology, 08/21/2012
Argiris A et al. – Cetuximab and bevacizumab are supported by preclinical observations and are well tolerated and active in previously treated patients with SCCHN.
Methods- The combination was studied in human endothelial cells and head and neck and lung cancer xenograft model systems.
- Patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN were treated with weekly cetuximab and bevacizumab, 15 mg/kg on day 1 given intravenously every 21 days, until disease progression.
- Analysis of tumor biomarkers and related serum cytokines was performed.
- Cetuximab plus bevacizumab enhanced growth inhibition both in vitro and in vivo, and resulted in potent reduction in tumor vascularization.
- In the clinical trial, 46 eligible patients were enrolled. The objective response rate was 16% and the disease control rate 73%.
- The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.8 and 7.5 months, respectively.
- Grade 3–4 adverse events were expected and occurred in less than 10% of patients.
- Transforming growth factor alpha, placenta-derived growth factor, EGFR, VEGFR2 increased and VEGF decreased after treatment but did not correlate with treatment efficacy.
