Phase II clinical trial of h-R3 combined with radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy and toxicity of the humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody h-R3 when combined with radiotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: 35 patients with stage III-IVb NPC with moderate- or strong-intensity EGFR expression were randomly divided into either a radiotherapy alone group or a group receiving radiotherapy combined with h-R3.

Results: The complete remission (CR) rates of the combination group at three time points were significantly higher (p<0.