CETUXIMAB AS PRIMARY TREATMENT FOR CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA TO THE NECK

Background. Head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) metastatic to lymph nodes is commonly treated with surgery plus radiotherapy. Methods. We present the case of a 92-year-old man with cutaneous SCC metastatic to the neck (7 cm) who was treated with primary cetuximab and has had a durable complete response for 7 months. Because of his age, comorbidities, and unresectable neck lymphadenopathy, he received primary cetuximab. He received a 400 mg/m(2) loading dose and a 250 mg/m2 weekly dose for 3 months and then had to discontinue as a result of other unrelated medical issues. Results. The patient had a complete response by 6 weeks. Seven months after discontinuing cetuximab, he continues to have a complete response. Conclusions. Primary cetuximab for cutaneous SCC metastatic to lymph nodes is an area that bears further investigation because of its apparent efficacy and excellent toxicity profile. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 33: 286 288, 2011