Guidelines for Complications of Cancer Treatment Vol VIII Part B

in most of the patients. The common side effects includehypersensitivityreaction during infusion, acneiform skinreaction and diarrhea and hypomagnesemia. Addition ofcetuximab to radiotherapy or chemotherapy does not result inhigher incidence of toxicity. In most of the cases the infusionreaction can be managed with discontinuation of infusion,antihistaminics and occasionally steroids are required. In mostof the patients these reaction do not occur during next infusion.Acneiform rashes can be managed with topical applicationofsteroids, and oral doxycycline. In cases with grade 4 orrecurrent grade 3 toxicity, does reduction or discontinuationis required -(LOE-2). role of other drugs like Geftinib andErlotinib - epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinaseinhibitors is limited to phase II trials with marginal activity.References1. Bourhis J: Update of MACH-NC (Meta- Analysis ofChemotherapy in Head & Neck Cancer) databasefocused on concomitant chemoradiotherapy. J ClinOncol 24:489s, 2004 (suppl; abstr 5505).2. Bernier J, Domenge C, Ozsahin M, et al: Postoperativeirradiation with or without concomitant chemotherapyfor locally advanced head and neck cancer. N Engl JMed 2004;350:1945-52.3. Cooper JS, Pajak TF, Forastiere AA, et al: Postoperativeconcurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for high-risksquamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N EnglJ Med 2004; 350:1937-44.4. Posner MR, Hershock DM,. Blajman CR. Cisplatin andFluorouracil Alone or with Docetaxel in Head and NeckCancer. N Engl J Med 2007;357:1705-15.5. Vermorken JB, Remenar E, Herpen C, Cisplatin,Fluorouracil, and Docetaxel in Unresectable Head andNeck Cancer. N Engl J Med 2007;357:1695-704.259