Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Treatments

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Brand Name

Erbitux

Generic Name
Cetuximab
View Brand Information
FDA approval date: February 12, 2004
Classification: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antagonist
Form: Solution

What is Erbitux (Cetuximab)?

ERBITUX ® is an epidermal growth factor receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of: Head and Neck Cancer Locally or regionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in combination with radiation therapy.
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Related Clinical Trials

A Randomized, Phase II Study of Definitive Radiotherapy With Concurrent Cisplatin vs. Docetaxel-cetuximab in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: an ERCC1 Biomarker Enrichment and Interaction Design

Summary: The goal of this clinical research study is to learn which chemotherapy combination may be more effective in treating locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The side effects of these combinations will also be studied. This study treatment consists of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy. For study chemotherapy, patients will be randomize...

Randomized Phase II/III Trial of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy With Cisplatin, Docetaxel-Cetuximab, or Cisplatin-Atezolizumab in Pathologic High-Risk Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck

Summary: This phase II/III trial studies how well radiation therapy works when given together with cisplatin, docetaxel, cetuximab, and/or atezolizumab after surgery in treating patients with high-risk stage III-IV head and neck cancer the begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cell). Specialized radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and ...

A Phase Ib Open Label Randomised Clinical Trial to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of BI 770371 in Combination With Pembrolizumab With or Without Cetuximab Compared With Pembrolizumab Monotherapy for the First-line Treatment of Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Summary: This study is open to adults with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study is to find out whether combining different study medicines makes tumors shrink in people with head and neck cancer. The tested medicines in this study are antibodies that act in different ways against cancer. BI 770371 and pembrolizumab may help the immune system fight cancer. Cetuximab blocks growth signals and may ...

Brand Information

ERBITUX (cetuximab)
WARNING: INFUSION REACTIONS and CARDIOPULMONARY ARREST
Infusion Reactions: ERBITUX can cause serious and fatal infusion reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (. Immediately interrupt and permanently discontinue ERBITUX for serious infusion reactions [see Dosage and Administration (.
Cardiopulmonary Arrest: Cardiopulmonary arrest or sudden death occurred in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck receiving ERBITUX with radiation therapy or a cetuximab product with platinum-based therapy and fluorouracil. Monitor serum electrolytes, including serum magnesium, potassium, and calcium, during and after ERBITUX administration [see Warnings and Precautions (.
1DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
Injection: 100 mg/50 mL (2 mg/mL) or 200 mg/100 mL (2 mg/mL) as a clear, colorless solution in a single-dose vial.
2CONTRAINDICATIONS
None.
3ADVERSE REACTIONS
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label:
  • Infusion reactions
  • Cardiopulmonary arrest
  • Pulmonary toxicity
  • Dermatologic toxicity
  • Hypomagnesemia and Electrolyte Abnormalities
3.1Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The data described in Warnings and Precautions reflect exposure to ERBITUX in 1373 patients with SCCHN or CRC enrolled in clinical trials and treated at the recommended dosage for a median of 7 to 14 weeks
3.2Immunogenicity
As with all therapeutic proteins, there is potential for immunogenicity. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to cetuximab in the studies below with the incidence of antibodies to cetuximab in other studies or to other products may be misleading.
An ELISA methodology was used to characterize the incidence of anti-cetuximab antibodies. The incidence of anti-cetuximab binding antibodies in 105 patients (from studies I4E-MC-JXBA, I4E-MC-JXBB, and I4E-MC-JXBD) with at least one post-baseline blood sample (≥4 weeks post first ERBITUX administration) was <5%.
3.3Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of ERBITUX. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
  • Neurologic: Aseptic meningitis
  • Gastrointestinal: Mucosal inflammation
  • Dermatologic: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, life-threatening and fatal bullous mucocutaneous disease
4DESCRIPTION
Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist. It is a recombinant, human/mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the extracellular domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cetuximab is composed of the Fv regions of a murine anti-EGFR antibody with human IgG1 heavy and kappa light chain constant regions and has an approximate molecular weight of 152 kDa. Cetuximab is produced in mammalian (murine myeloma) cell culture.
ERBITUX (cetuximab) injection for intravenous use, is a sterile, preservative-free, clear, colorless solution, which may contain a small amount of visible, white, amorphous cetuximab particulates in a single-dose vial. Each 1 mL of solution contains 2 mg of cetuximab, sodium chloride (8.48 mg), sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate (1.88 mg), sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate (0.41 mg), and Water for Injection, USP at pH of 7.0 to 7.4.