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Table 1 Efficacy and toxicity of treatment

From: Rapid palliation of symptoms with platinum-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab in recurrent oral cancer: a case report

Treatment cycle

Effect of treatment on signs and symptoms

Adverse events

Pre-treatment

Pain 9/10*

Facial mass 89 mm

N/A

1

Pain reduction to 2/10* after 7 days, with discontinuation of oral morphine after 4 days

Reduction of facial mass to 70 mm

Grade 2 nausea

2

Labial and periorbital facial oedema reduced

Reduction of facial mass to 40 mm

Grade 2 nausea

Grade 2 neutropenia

Next treatment cycle delayed by one week

3

Pain resolved (0/10)* and pain relief discontinued

Facial oedema resolved

CT scan: partial tumour remission, with marked reduction of retromandibular mass

Grade 2 anaemia

4

No pain relief requirement

Grade 2 anorexia

Grade 2 vomiting

Grade 2 asthenia

Grade 2 mucositis

Grade 3 anaemia (requiring red cell transfusion)

Grade 1 acne-like rash (facial)

Cetuximab maintenance

(7 continuous months of treatment)

No pain relief requirement

Grade 2 mucositis

Grade 2 acne-like rash (painful lesions on the scalp)

Cetuximab discontinued for 3 weeks

  1. *Pain was assessed using a visual pain scale with a range from 0 to 10: the higher the score, the more severe the pain. CT = computed tomography.