ArticleInternational journal of clinical oncology2025
Paclitaxel plus cetuximab versus nivolumab for patients with platinum-refractory recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis.
Article in International journal of clinical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundNivolumab is the standard treatment for platinum-refractory recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M-HNSCC). Several studies have reported the efficacy of paclitaxel plus cetuximab (PC) combination therapy in this patient population.
methodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with platinum-refractory R/M-HNSCC treated with nivolumab or PC at our institution between January 2015 and March 2022. Eligibility criteria included histologically confirmed HNSCC, ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2, with platinum-refractory R/M disease, defined as recurrence or disease progression within 6 months after platinum-based definitive chemoradiotherapy.
resultsThe baseline characteristics of the 56 patients (21 PC/35 nivolumab) were ECOG PS 1-2 (76/54%), metastatic sites ≥ 2 (33/46%), local recurrence (62/23%), and median tumor size (43.2/26.2 mm). Median progression-free survival (mPFS) tended to favor PC over nivolumab (4.3/2.7 months, hazard ratio [HR]: 0.7, p = 0.41), and median overall survival tended to be inferior for PC (8.0/23.2 months, HR: 1.58, p = 0.20). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for several relevant factors. The objective response rate was numerically higher with PC (31/19%). Grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent with PC (29/6%), and the most prevalent were leukopenia (19%) for PC and liver dysfunction (6%) for nivolumab. Subsequent treatment with PC and nivolumab was administered to 75% and 72% of patients, respectively; the mPFS of these patients was significantly lower with PC (1.6/9.2 months, HR: 9.9, p < 0.001).
conclusionBoth PC and nivolumab are viable treatment options for platinum-refractory R/M-HNSCC, though their efficacy and safety profiles should be carefully considered.
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