EGFR-antibody-supplemented TPF chemotherapy. Preclinical investigations to a novel approach for head and neck cancer induction treatment.

Recent studies on polychemotherapy of head and neck cancer showed an improved remission rate on adding taxanes to the standard cytotoxic drugs cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Moreover, for enhancing the response rate of chemotherapy today, a series of biological response modifiers are of interest, including modulators of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Therefore we investigated whether the addition of monoclonal antibodies against the EGFR could enhance the response rate of cisplatin, 5-FU and docetaxel. Squamous cell cancer lines were transplanted into nude mice. After tumors had begun to grow, they were treated either with cisplatin, 5-FU or docetaxel alone or in combination with escalating doses of a humanized monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody.