Distinctive mucositis and feeding-tube dependency in cetuximab plus radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Objective Prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy may be considered before chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, because severe mucositis is a common complication. We evaluated the mucosal findings and necessity of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma receiving cetuximab and radiotherapy. Methods Fourteen consecutive patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma receiving cetuximab and radiotherapy were analyzed. Results Patients' backgrounds were as follows: male/female, 8/6; median age, 64.5 years (range, 35-83 years); performance status, 0/1, 9/5. Primary tumor sites included the oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx in four, seven and three patients, respectively. Patients completed a median of eight cetuximab cycles. All patients received three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (median dose, 70 Gy). Thirteen patients were treated with elective neck irradiation at the ipsilateral (n = 3) or bilateral (n = 10) nodes. Grade ≥ 3 mucositis/stomatitis (clinical examination) occurred in 85.7% patients (n = 12). The median irradiation dose was 33 Gy at the Grade 3 mucositis onset. Eight patients showed mucositis with distinctive features, a wide range of white-coated lesions with a clear border; hypopharyngeal atresia was observed in two patients. Prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was performed in 11 patients, and 11 patients (78.6%) actually required nutritional support because of Grade ≥ 3 mucositis/stomatitis (functional/symptomatic). Conclusions Prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is recommended because most patients receiving cetuximab and radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma have Grade ≥ 3 mucositis with distinctive features.