Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate any acute adverse effects of cetuximab with radiotherapy (bioradiotherapy: BRT) on head and neck compare a to radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy (CRT, using CBDCA, CDDP, TPF therapy) for head and neck cancer.
Materials and Methods: We treated 18 patients (13 men and 5 women) with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, or hypopharynx. The median age was 64.4 years (range, 43–80 years). Patients received BRT (cetuximab: first time, 400 mg/m
2/day, second time, 250 mg/m
2/day). The neutrophil cell count, weight loss, stomatitis and dermatitis were compared to CRT.
Results: There was no significant difference in the incidences of weight loss in BRT compared with radiotherapy (
P=0.71) and chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA:
P=0.71, CDDP:
P=0.36, TPF therapy:
P=0.36). There was no significant difference in decrease of the neutrophil cell count in BRT compared with radiotherapy (
P=0.06). There were statistically significant decreases of the neutrophil cell count in BRT and chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA:
P=0.02, CDDP:
P=0.05, TPF therapy:
P=0.005). There were no significant differences in the incidences of stomatitis in BRT compared with radiotherapy (
P=0.13) and chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA:
P=0.10, CDDP:
P=0.19). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of stomatitis in BRT compared with chemoradiotherapy (TPF:
P=0.03). There were no significant differences in the incidences of dermatitis in BRT compared with radiotherapy (
P=0.89) and chemoradiotherapy (CDDP:
P=0.14, TPF:
P=0.53). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidences of dermatitis in BRT compared with chemoradiotherapy (CBDCA:
P=0.03).
Conclusion: The frequency of acute adverse event of BRT and radiotherapy was the same. BRT was more safe compared with another form of chemoradiotherapy.
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