Abstract
In the area of head and neck oncology as well as other oncology areas, molecular targeting agents are actively being developed and introduced. For example, Bonner et al. reported that adding cetuximab to radiation therapy showed a significant survival benefit for cases with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Moreover, Vermorken et al. reported that adding cetuximab to chemotherapy with platinum plus fluorouracil showed a significant survival benefit for recurrent or metastatic SCCHN. These results have brought big advances in head and neck oncology. However, according to the results from RTOG0522, adding cetuximab to chemoradiothearpy (CRT) did not show superiority to CRT. Furthermore, life-threatening bleeding events were observed in 10% of the patients receiving sunitinib in the phase 2 trial for recurrent or metastatic SCCHN. These results have confirmed that molecular targeting agents do not always bring clinical benefits.
Molecular targeting agents will soon be available in Japan; we must be careful when using and managing these agents.
