Activity of platinum and cetuximab in cutaneous squamous cell cancer not amenable to curative treatment

Donata Galbiati MD, Stefano Cavalieri MD, Salvatore Alfieri MD, Carlo Resteghini MD, Cristiana Bergamini MD, Ester Orlandi MD, Francesca Platini MD, Laura Locati MD, Luca Giacomelli PhD, Lisa Licitra MD, Paolo Bossi MD

Abstract

Background: Unresectable or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell cancers (cSCCs) are rare but potentially life-threatening diseases. In this setting, systemic therapy has a palliative intent with limited benefit, but there is no established consensus regarding the proper management of this tumour. This retrospective study aimed to review outcomes in patients with non-curable cSCC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and cetuximab.

Methods: We considered 12 consecutive patients treated between June 2010 and March 2016. All patients had received previous treatment for the local disease.

Results: The overall response rate was 50%, and the disease control rate was 67%. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 6.6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–8.4) and 14.6 (95% CI: 9.4–20.1) months, respectively. The median duration of response was 4.8 months (95% CI: 1.2–5.9). The most frequent toxicities were skin reactions (58%; grade 3: 25%) and anaemia (10%). No grade 4 toxicities were observed.

Conclusions: Cetuximab and platinum-based chemotherapy were shown to be feasible and active in cSCC, with an acceptable toxicity profile, even if with a limited duration of response.

Article Details

Article Type

Original Research

DOI

10.7573/dic.212611

Publication Dates

Accepted: ; Published: .

Citation

Galbiati D, Cavalieri S, Alfieri S, Resteghini C, Bergamini C, Orlandi E, Platini F, Locati LD, Giacomelli L, Licitra LF, Bossi P. Activity of platinum and cetuximab in cutaneous squamous cell cancer not amenable to curative treatment. Drugs in Context 2019; 8: 212611. DOI: 10.7573/dic.212611

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