ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is current evidence that non-melanoma skin cancers can be successfully treated with cetuximab. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use and efficacy of cetuximab (with or without radiotherapy) in a series of previously treated patients with metastatic squamous cell cancer of the skin (SCCS) in Switzerland. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of six patients from four centers. Endpoints were disease control rates (DCRs) at 4-8 weeks, 12-14 weeks and 20-36 weeks of treatment. Treatment-related toxicity was evaluated additionally. RESULTS: A median of 14 cycles of cetuximab were applied. DCR was 67% at 4-8 weeks, 50% at 12-14 weeks and 33% at 20-36 weeks. In 4-8 weeks responders, mean relapse-free time was 12 ± 6.2 months and mean overall survival was 25 ± 16.2 months. Grade I-III acne-like rash developed around week 3 of treatment in 83%. CONCLUSIONS: Cetuximab treatment in patients with metastatic SCCS achieved an overall DCR of 67% at 4-8 weeks of treatment. This study underlines the current evidence that SCCS can be successfully treated with cetuximab.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy , Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy , Aged , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/secondary , Cetuximab , Disease-Free Survival , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Neoplasm Metastasis , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Skin Neoplasms/mortality , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Survival Rate/trends , Switzerland/epidemiology , Time Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
A woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus presented with extensive bilateral strokes due to acute inflammatory, occlusive large vessel disease affecting several aortic branches including the carotid, subclavian, renal, and iliac arteries. We quantitatively characterized the arterial inflammation in this patient and compared it with the inflammatory infiltrates from 22 patients with conventional atherosclerosis. Profound histomorphologic differences from conventional atherosclerosis (predominance of CD8-positive lymphocytes, relative absence of macrophages, no ectopic neovascularization, no signs of plaque hemorrhage, concentric instead of eccentrical stenosis) suggest that this patient's accelerated arteriopathy was precipitated by pathogenic events other than conventional atherosclerosis.
