Real-world treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

AIM: To understand the treatment patterns and outcomes for stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, patients receiving second-line or later drug therapy. MATERIALS & METHODS: Real-world data were collected from 1152 patients in the USA, France, Germany and the UK through a retrospective chart analysis and patient-reported outcomes were collected using validated questionnaires in a subgroup of patients. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of patients had stage IVA/B disease. A total of 77, 19 and 3% of patients had received two, three and four plus lines of active drug treatment. Platinum- and cetuximab-based regimens were common at early treatment lines. Time to progression was short (5.2 months post first line), survival rates low and patient-reported health status poor. CONCLUSION: Novel therapies that could improve clinical and patient-reported outcomes would address a significant unmet need.