Radioimmunotherapy with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and cetuximab produced a overall response rate of 63% in patients with stage III non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in the phase 2 NEAR trial. Patients (median age, 71 years) received 1 loading dose of cetuximab 1 week before radiotherapy, followed by radioimmunotherapy (comprised of 7 weekly applications of cetuximab), and ending with 13 applications of maintenance cetuximab. Patients also received dexamethasone and dimetinden before each dose of cetuximab. Treatment was well tolerated (only mild toxicity). The researchers noted that although the feasibility and safety profile are encouraging, further research is needed to address the influence of histologic subtype.
The complete study is published in the July 1, 2011, issue of Cancer (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.25888/abstract;jsessionid=8E9E05F623E0B63C4642A081EA194747.d02t04?systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+disrupted+2+July+from+10-12+BST+for+monthly+maintenance).
