Radiochemotherapy with or without cetuximab for unresectable esophageal cancer

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of cetuximab when added to radiochemotherapy for unresectable esophageal cancer.

METHODS: This randomized phase 2 trial (clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT01787006) compared radiochemotherapy plus cetuximab (arm A) to radiochemotherapy (arm B) for unresectable esophageal cancer. Primary objective was 2‑year overall survival (OS). Arm A was considered insufficiently active if 2‑year OS was ≤40% (null hypothesis = H0), and promising if the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval was >45%. If that lower limit was >40%, H0 was rejected. Secondary objectives included progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional control (LC), metastases-free survival (MFS), response, and toxicity. The study was terminated early after 74 patients; 68 patients were evaluable.

RESULTS: Two-year OS was 71% in arm A (95% CI: 55-87%) vs. 53% in arm B (95% CI: 36-71%); H0 was rejected. Median OS was 49.1 vs. 24.1 months (p = 0.147). Hazard ratio (HR) for death was 0.60 (95% CI: 0.30-1.21). At 2 years, PFS was 56% vs. 44%, LC 84% vs. 72%, and MFS 74% vs. 54%. HRs were 0.51 (0.25-1.04) for progression, 0.43 (0.13-1.40) for locoregional failure, and 0.43 (0.17-1.05) for distant metastasis. Overall response was 81% vs. 69% (p = 0.262). Twenty-six and 27 patients, respectively, experienced at least one toxicity grade ≥3 (p = 0.573). A significant difference was found for grade ≥3 allergic reactions (12.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.044).

CONCLUSION: Given the limitations of this trial, radiochemotherapy plus cetuximab was feasible. There was a trend towards improved PFS and MFS. Larger studies are required to better define the role of cetuximab for unresectable esophageal cancer.