Cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy vs. cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy for p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer: an updated meta-analysis including trials RTOG 1016 and De-ESCALaTE

Purpose Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is a special entity among head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Given its favorable prognosis, one of the de-escalating strategies in the treatment of OPC includes the introduction of cetuximab (C225) instead of cisplatin (CDDP) in conjunction with radiotherapy. An updated meta-analysis of published studies has been performed, which directly compared the efficacy of CDDP vs. C225 given concurrently with radiotherapy as definitive treatment of p16-positive OPC.