Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25810697›Full record

ArticleRadiology and oncology2015

Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography to assess early activity of cetuximab in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Sandra Schmitz, Denis Rommel, Nicolas Michoux, Renaud Lhommel, François-Xavier Hanin, Thierry Duprez, Jean-Pascal Machiels

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Radiology and oncology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Surrogating tumour cell density in head and neck cancer: [Radiation oncology (London, England) · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Observational
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Sandra SchmitzDepartment of Medical Oncology and Head and Neck Surgery, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Denis RommelDepartment of Medical Imaging and Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole IMAG), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Nicolas MichouxDepartment of Medical Imaging and Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole IMAG), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Renaud LhommelDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
François-Xavier HaninDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Thierry DuprezDepartment of Medical Imaging and Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole IMAG), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Jean-Pascal MachielsDepartment of Medical Oncology and Head and Neck Surgery, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
UCLouvain · BECliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), has demonstrated activity in various tumor types. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT), we investigated the early activity of cetuximab monotherapy in previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

methodsTreatment-naïve patients with SCCHN received cetuximab for 2 weeks before curative surgery. Treatment activity was evaluated by DCE-CT at baseline and before surgery. Tumor vascular and interstitial characteristics were evaluated using the Brix two-compartment kinetic model. Modifications of the perfusion parameters (blood flow Fp, extravascular space ve, vascular space vp, and transfer constant PS) were assessed between both time points. DCE data were compared to FDG-PET and histopathological examination obtained simultaneously. Plasmatic vascular markers were investigated at different time points.

resultsFourteen patients had evaluable DCE-CT parameters at both time points. A significant increase in the extravascular extracellular space ve accessible to the tracer was observed but no significant differences were found for the other kinetic parameters (Fp, vp or PS). Significant correlations were found between DCE parameters and the other two modalities. Plasmatic VEGF, PDGF-BB and IL-8 decreased as early as 2 hours after cetuximab infusion.

conclusionsEarly activity of cetuximab on tumor interstitial characteristics was detected by DCE-CT. Modifications of plasmatic vascular markers are not sufficient to confirm anti-angiogenic cetuximab activity in vivo. Further investigation is warranted to determine to what extent DCE-CT parameters are modified and to evaluate whether they are able to predict treatment outcome.

Indexed as

cetuximabDCE-CThead and neck cancerperfusion

Identifiers

PMID25810697
PMCPMC4362602
OpenAlexW2003604455

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.