Induction cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin followed by chemoradiation with cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin for stage III/IV head and neck squamous cancer: a phase II ECOG-ACRIN trial (E2303).

Background: E2303 evaluated cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin used as induction therapy and concomitant with radiation therapy in patients with stage III/IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) determining pathologic complete response (CR), event-free survival (EFS), and toxicity.

Patients And Methods: Patients with resectable stage III/IV HNSCC underwent induction therapy with planned primary site restaging biopsies (at week 8 in clinical complete responders and at week 14 if disease persisted). Chemoradiation (CRT) began week 9.

Evaluation of irinotecan plus paclitaxel in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: We conducted a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of irinotecan and paclitaxel in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients were eligible if they had histologically confirmed chemotherapy naïve stage IV NSCLC or stage IIIB disease that was not suitable for combined modality therapy. Patients were treated with irinotecan 50 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 75 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle.