Phase I Trial of Cetuximab, Radiotherapy, and Ipilimumab in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose: Concurrent radiotherapy with cetuximab, an anti-EGFR mAb, is a standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC). Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4-positive (CTLA-4+) regulatory T cells (Treg) dampen cellular immunity and correlate negatively with clinical outcomes. This phase I study added ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 mAb, to cetuximab-radiotherapy.

Phase 1 study of EGFR-antisense DNA, cetuximab, and radiotherapy in head and neck cancer with preclinical correlatives.

Background: Cetuximab combined with radiation therapy (RT) is an evidence-based treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, locoregional failure remains the primary cause of cancer-related death in this disease. Intratumoral injection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-antisense plasmid DNA (EGFR-AS) is safe and has been associated with promising lesional responses in patients who have recurrent/metastatic HNSCC. For the current study, the authors investigated the antitumor effects of cetuximab and EGFR-AS in preclinical HNSCC models and reported their phase 1 experience adding intratumoral EGFR-AS to cetuximab RT.

Local control and visual acuity following treatment of medium-sized ocular melanoma using a contact eye plaque: a single surgeon experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of choroidal melanoma in (CM) patients treated with (125)I episcleral plaque brachytherapy and to compare our single surgeon results with the multi-institutional Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS).

Methods And Materials: A review was performed of all CM patients treated with (125)I episcleral plaque brachytherapy by ophthalmologist in accordance with established COMS guidelines.

Results: The records of 35 patients were reviewed.

Stereotactic radiosurgery boost to the resection bed for oligometastatic brain disease: challenging the tradition of adjuvant whole-brain radiotherapy.

Object: Whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been the traditional approach to minimize the risk of intracranial recurrence following resection of brain metastases, despite its potential for late neurotoxicity. In 2007, the authors demonstrated an equivalent local recurrence rate to WBRT by using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to the operative bed, sparing 72% of their patients WBRT. They now update their initial experience with additional patients and more mature follow-up.

Single session stereotactic radiosurgery boost to the post-operative site in lieu of whole brain radiation in metastatic brain disease.

Purpose: Whole brain radiation (WBXRT) reduces the incidence of local and distant recurrence following resection of metastatic brain disease but does not prolong life and may entail neurocognitive decline. We employed a novel treatment modality of providing a single-session stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) boost to the surgical resection site to achieve local control without the risk of cognitive effects.

Methods: We reviewed all patients at our institution that were treated with SRS to the post-operative bed following resection of a metastatic brain deposit.