Retrospective multicentric survival analysis of patients receiving TPEx regimen as first-line treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background: TPEx regimen (docetaxel, platinum, cetuximab) is a first-line treatment option for recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) if combined positive score <1, or in case of high tumor burden. We sought to evaluate the survival rates of patients receiving TPEx in real life as first-line treatment of R/M HNSCC, particularly since the advent of immunotherapy (IO) as second-line therapy. Methods: This multicentric retrospective study included patients treated by a first cycle of TPEx between 2018 and 2023, with a performance status of 0 or 1. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary end-points were progression free survival (PFS1), rate of patients exposed to IO after TPEx, PFS of patients on second line treatment (PFS2). Results: A total of 204 patients were included, mainly men (86%), previously treated for a localized HNSCC (78%). Some 32% of patients had a clinically threatening disease. Combined positive score was available for 88 patients (43%). Patients were treated with a median of four cycles of TPEx, followed by cetuximab maintenance for 154 patients. After a median follow-up of 35.8 months, median OS was 17.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 15.7-19.6 months], median PFS1 was 6.0 months (95% CI 5.7-6.9 months) and median PFS2 was 2.5 months (95% CI 2.0-2.8 months). Among the 182 patients who progressed under TPEx, 148 patients were exposed to IO (81.3%) in subsequent lines. Conclusion: Median OS of 17.9 months under TPEx as first-line treatment of R/M HNSCC compares favorably with historical data. IO exposure after progression on TPEx was the rule.