Incidence of skin toxicity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with radiotherapy and cetuximab: A systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: Radiotherapy plus cetuximab is an effective combination therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of skin toxicity in patients receiving the combined treatment.

Results: Forty-eight studies were included in our analysis, for a total of 2152 patients. The mean rates of G3/G4 radiation dermatitis and acneiform rash were 32.5% (SD: 20.4; 95% CI: 28.5-36.5) and 13.4% (SD: 11.5; 95% CI: 11.2-15.6), respectively. The majority of studies referred to CTCAE scales for reporting both side effects (85.7% and 92.1%, respectively). Data on the management of skin toxicity were available in only 35.4% of the reviewed literature.

Conclusions: severe radiation dermatitis is a frequent side effect induced by the combination of radiotherapy and cetuximab in head and neck cancer. The lack of predictive biomarkers of toxicity hampers the possibilty to design preventive measures on a personalized basis.

Keywords: Cetuximab; Dermatitis; Head and neck cancer; Radiotherapy; Rash.