Zdravljenje bolnikov s ploščatoceličnim karcinomom glave in vratu z obsevanjem in cetuksimabom Treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with concomitant irradiation and cetuximab

Abstract

Ni abstrakta.

Abstract (Eng)

Contemporary management of locally and regionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck combines simultaneous application of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. With more comprehensive understanding of radiobiological principles of radiotherapy and recent developments in biological drug modeling and technology, more room was provided for improving some other areas of treatment. One of the new promising strategies in the treatment of head and neck carcinomas is the inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling using anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (e.g. cetuximab, Erbitux®). In this article, we present the first two patients treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana with the combination of irradiation and cetuximab and discuss theoretical background for the new treatment regime and other possible therapeutic indications for cetuximab in head and neck oncology.