Back to Search
Start Over
Targeted Therapeutic Approaches in Vulvar Squamous Cell Cancer (VSCC): Case Series and Review of the Literature
- Source :
- Oncology Research
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Cognizant Communication Corporation, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Therapeutic options in recurrent or metastasized vulvar squamous cell cancer (VSCC) not amenable to radiotherapy or radical surgery are limited. Evidence for the use of targeted therapies is sparse. All patients with VSCC treated at the Gynecological Cancer Center Hamburg-Eppendorf 2013–2019 were retrospectively evaluated for targeted therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, a MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and OVID database search was performed using the terms: “vulvar cancer” AND “targeted therapy,” “erlotinib,” “EGFR,” “bevacizumab,” “VEGF,” “pembrolizumab,” or “immunotherapy.” Twelve of 291 patients (4.1%) with VSCC received at least one targeted therapy at our institution. Previously, one or more platinum-based chemotherapy was applied to all patients [median 3.5 previous lines (range 2–5)]. In the erlotinib subgroup, two of five patients (40%) achieved stable disease (SD), while two patients (2/5, 40%) experienced partial response (PR). Treatment was given as monotherapy in second/third line for a median of 3.4 months (range 2–6 months). Bevacizumab (n = 9) was given as maintenance therapy after platinum-based first-line chemotherapy (9/9); best response was complete response (CR) (n = 2/9 22.2%). Median duration of treatment was 7 months (range 4–13 months) with two patients still under ongoing treatment. Best response in the pembrolizumab (n = 3) subset was SD (n = 1/3 33%). Treatment was given as monotherapy in second/third line for a median of 3.3 months (range 3–4 months). Nine of 12 patients (75%) experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), most commonly grade 1/2. Rapidly evolving antibody treatments have proven clinical benefit especially in HPV-driven tumor entities; however, clinical investigations in VSCC are still limited. These reported cases provide evidence for the clinical utility and feasibility while ensuring an acceptable safety profile.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Oncology
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Cancer Research
medicine.medical_treatment
Pembrolizumab
Targeted therapy
Vulvar cancer (VC)
0302 clinical medicine
Maintenance therapy
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
Neoplasm Metastasis
Vulvar Neoplasms
VEGF signaling pathway
General Medicine
Middle Aged
Bevacizumab
ErbB Receptors
Treatment Outcome
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Female
Erlotinib
Immunotherapy
medicine.drug
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Antineoplastic Agents
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Article
03 medical and health sciences
Erlotinib Hydrochloride
Internal medicine
medicine
Humans
Radical surgery
EGFR targeting
Aged
Retrospective Studies
business.industry
Immuno-oncology
Vulvar cancer
medicine.disease
Radiation therapy
030104 developmental biology
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15553906 and 09650407
- Volume :
- 28
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Oncology Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3ce4c8fc75dc7402610240cdd90e9d92