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EGFR overexpression in salivary gland carcinomas provides the rational for the investigation of anti-EGFR treatments in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancers (RMSGCs). The activity of cetuximab in terms of clinical benefit rate (CBR) defined as the occurrence of objective response (CR or PR) or stable disease (SD) for ≥6 months was investigated. From April to December 2005, 30 patients [23 adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and 7 non-ACC] were treated with cetuximab at 400 mg/m2/week followed by 250 mg/m2/week until progression, major toxicity or voluntary discontinuation. EGFR expression and gene status were retrospectively analyzed by immunocytochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, respectively. A median of 14 courses of cetuximab (range 5-54) were infused. Skin toxicity was the main adverse event. Cetuximab provides a CBR in 50% (95% CL, 31 to 69%) of cases. None tumor sample showed EGFR gene amplification and an increased EGFR copy number was observed in 12% of samples, all ACC. Skin rash ≥G2, EGFR overexpression and EGFR copy number were not statistically correlated to CB. In RMSGCs further evaluations of EGFR targeting agents are advisable and should take place by appropriate tumor biological selection, differentiating ACC from non-ACC. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Five-year survival in patients with unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is less than 10%. In the present phase II study, 43 patients with locally advanced stage IIIA or selected IIIB NSCLC were given four courses of carboplatin AUC = 6 and paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 (3-hour infusion), every 3 weeks. Responsive patients, when possible, underwent surgery followed by standard radiotherapy (50 Gy) or radiotherapy (60 Gy), with concurrent cisplatin as intravenous continuous infusion of 4 mg/m2/d. Sixteen of the 42 evaluable patients achieved partial response (38%) and 3 complete response (CR) (7%) for an overall response rate of 45% (95% CI 30.1-60.2). R0 resectability rate was 29%, with 21% of pathologic CRs. Three more CRs were achieved with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in responsive but unresected patients. Grade III/IV hematologic toxicity was 9%, while one perioperative death occurred. The median duration of response was 14 months (range: 3-44+); median survival was 15 months (range: 9-47+). One-year and 2-year survival rates were 51% and 22%, respectively. The median survival in the responsive resected patients was 26 months, with 2-year survival of 57%. Carboplatin/paclitaxel represents an effective and well-tolerated induction therapy, suggesting its possible role in combination with radiotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced NSCLC in alternative to cisplatin-based regimens.