BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to establish the efficacy and toxicities of concurrent bevacizumab and docetaxel with radiation for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
METHODS: Patients with previously untreated HNSCC received standard daily radiotherapy (RT) with concurrent weekly docetaxel (20 mg/m(2) ) and biweekly bevacizumab (5 mg/kg). Biweekly bevacizumab was then continued for up to 1 year after RT. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary objectives included overall survival (OS), patterns of failure, and toxicities of treatment.
RESULTS: Thirty patients were recruited. With median follow-up of 38 months, the 3-year PFS, OS, locoregional recurrence-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival was 61.7%, 68.2%, 84.5%, and 80.5%, respectively. The most common local toxicities were mucositis and dermatitis. Two patients developed hemorrhage. There was no grade 5 toxicity.
CONCLUSION: The combination of bevacizumab, docetaxel, and RT is tolerable and effective in HNSCC. This regimen is worthy of further study in appropriate subset of patients receiving chemoradiation therapy.