Early prediction of response to cetuximab and radiotherapy by FDG-PET/CT for the treatment of a locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx

Medicina (Kaunas). 2014;50(4):245-8. doi: 10.1016/j.medici.2014.09.003. Epub 2014 Sep 29.

Abstract

Cetuximab (CTX) is used for the concurrent treatment with radiotherapy (RT) in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC). There are no reliable clinical predictive markers of effectiveness of CTX at yet. We describe the clinical case of patient who received a CTX/RT to cure locoregionally advanced hypopharyngeal SCC. 2-Deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography ((18)FDG-PET/CT) was performed before the treatment and repeated 10 days after CTX induction dose. A repeated (18)FDG-PET/CT scan showed dramatic decrease of metabolic parameters. Patient had a complete response after treatment and is still alive and cured after 5 years.

Keywords: Cetuximab; FDG-PET/CT; Head and neck cancer; Predictive marker; Radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Cetuximab / therapeutic use*
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / therapeutic use*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / therapeutic use*
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Cetuximab