Complete Response to Cetuximab Plus Paclitaxel Therapy in Nivolumab-Refractory Patients in Distant Metastasis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue: A Report of Two Cases

Cureus. 2023 Nov 21;15(11):e49198. doi: 10.7759/cureus.49198. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Herein, we report two cases of patients diagnosed with nivolumab-refractory distant metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue who were successfully treated with a combination of paclitaxel and cetuximab. Case 1 had controllable local recurrence and distant metastasis. Case 2 had controllable distant metastatic disease. Thus, demonstrating that some nivolumab-refractory patients with recurrent or distant metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma may benefit from subsequent salvage chemotherapy.

Keywords: case report; cetuximab; distant metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma; nivolumab-refractory; paclitaxel.

Publication types

  • Case Reports