Presence of Rash Associated with Improved Survival in Patients Receiving Adjuvant Erbitux® for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer (11/16/2009)
A multicenter randomized trial has shown that patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer receiving adjuvant Erbitux® (cetuximab) and radiotherapy who develop a rash have a better survival than patients receiving this therapy who don’t develop a rash.  The details of this five-year follow-up of a Phase III randomized study were published early online in the Lancet Oncology on November 7, 2009.

H-R3 (Nimotuzumab) Enhances Radiation and Chemotherapy Responses in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer (11/11/2009)
Researchers from India have reported that the addition of nimotuzumab to radiation therapy or radiation therapy plus chemotherapy increases long-term loco-regional control and survival in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. The details of this Phase IIB study were presented at the 2009 meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO).

Adjuvant Erbitux® May Improve Survival of High-risk Resected Head and Neck Cancer (11/11/2009)
Researchers affiliated with RTOG 0234 have reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) may improve outcomes of patients with high-risk resected head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy. The details of this study were presented at the 2009 meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in the first week of November.

Erbitux® Improves Survival of Patients with Unresectable Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Radiation Therapy and Platinol® (11/10/2009)
Researchers affiliated with ECOG 3303 have reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to concurrent Platinol® (cisplatin) and radiotherapy improves progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable head and neck cancer who had not been previously treated. The details of this Phase II study were presented at the 2009 meeting of the Association for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in the first week of November.

Smoking Cessation Leads to Reduction in Risk of Head and Neck Cancer (11/3/2009)
Researchers involved in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium have reported that smoking cessation for one to four years resulted in a 30% reduction in the risk of head and neck cancer. A benefit of cessation of alcohol drinking, however, was not observed until after 20 years or more. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the International Journal of Epidemiology on October 5, 2009.