The use of cetuximab for oral cancer and adverse events with different treatment regimens: A single-center retrospective study over an 11-year period

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the use and safety of cetuximab (C-mab) monotherapy or combination therapy with various regimens for treating oral cancer in our hospital. Methods: The study comprised 53 patients diagnosed with oral cancer who underwent chemotherapy with C-mab between January 2013 and December 2022 at the Oral Cancer Center, Tokyo Dental College. In total, 68 regimens were analyzed. The cumulative rate was determined by analyzing the timing and incidence of adverse events (AEs) with each regimen using a Kaplan–Meier curve. Results: The treatment regimens administered included the following: induction C-mab + paclitaxel + carboplatin (ICT-PCE, n = 7), C-mab + radiotherapy (RT) (n = 22), C-mab + cisplatin + fluorouracil (n = 7), C-mab + paclitaxel + carboplatin (n = 1), C-mab + paclitaxel (n = 16), C-mab maintenance (n = 11), and four other cases. The total number of doses administered was 895. Conclusions: This retrospective study investigated the effectiveness of treatment regimens containing C-mab for oral cancer and adverse reactions to these regimens. C-mab is a crucial component of oral cancer treatment when used in multidrug therapy. C-mab containing regimens may result in direct or indirect AEs. Ongoing, rigorous monitoring is essential to mitigate these events. Partnering with other departments can help to limit their severity.