Early [18]FDG PET/CT scan predicts tumor response in head and neck squamous cell cancer patients treated with erlotinib adjusted per smoking status.

ABSTRACT:

Translational relevance

Evaluation of targeted therapies is urgently needed for the majority of patients with metastatic/recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who progress after immunochemotherapy. Erlotinib, a targeted inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, lacks FDA approval in HNSCC due to inadequate tumor response. This study identifies two potential avenues to improve tumor response to erlotinib among patients with HNSCC. For the first time, this study shows that an increased erlotinib dose of 300 mg in smokers is well-tolerated and produces similar plasma drug concentration as the regular dose of 150 mg in non-smokers, with increased study-specific defined tumor response. The study also highlights the opportunity for improved patient selectio

SUBMITTER: Porosnicu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9468744 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature