Targeted Therapy for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer

Targeted therapy can be used to treat oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers by destroying cancer cells or slowing their growth.

Targeted therapy is the use of medicines that target, or are directed at, proteins on cancer cells that help them grow, spread, and live longer. The side effects are different from chemotherapy, sometimes less severe.

Targeting oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer cells with EGFR changes

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a protein found on the surface of certain cancer cells that helps those cells grow and divide. Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer cells sometimes have higher than normal amounts of EGFR. Blocking this protein can help slow or stop cancer cell growth.

Cetuximab (Erbitux)

Cetuximab (Erbitux) is a drug that targets EGFR and can be used to treat some oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.

This drug is a monoclonal antibody, which is a man-made version of an immune system protein. By blocking EGFR, cetuximab can help slow or stop cancer cell growth.

Cetuximab can be combined with radiation therapy for some earlier stage cancers. For more advanced cancers, it may be combined with standard chemo drugs such as cisplatin, combined with immunotherapy, or used by itself.

Cetuximab is given by infusion into a vein (IV), either once a week or every other week.

Possible side effects of targeted therapy

Common side effects of cetuximab include:

• Skin problems such as an acne-like rash on the face and chest
• Skin sensitivity to the sun
• Headache
• Tiredness 
• Fever
• Diarrhea

An allergic reaction during the first infusion is a rare but serious side effect of cetuximab. This could cause breathing problems and low blood pressure. You will be given medicine before treatment to help prevent this.