Let us not get confused here. We are talking about using chemicals (whether that be a cytotoxic agent such as cisplatin or a monoclonal antibody such as Erbitux) to sensitise and assist radiation. In terms of treatment, this is NOT chemotherapy, this is chemoradiation.

Chemotherapy is the name given to the use of a combination of two or three chemical agents intended to halt, shrink or destroy tumours and is generally not terribly successful as a curative regimen for oral cancer when used on its own.

Going back to a point that Charm made recently about mutations and resistance, - single agents generally cannot withstand cancer's ability to mutate and render the agent ineffective within a matter of weeks if not days.

We know that Erbitux plus radiotherapy is better than radiotherapy alone. We also know that cisplatin plus radiotherapy is better than radiotherapy alone. When comparing the numbers indirectly across the major trials (which is very unscientific and risky) the magnitude of effect is about the same.

What we don't know is whether Erbitux plus radiation is better than cisplatin plus radiation. This trial has not yet been done and unfortunately only a trial which compares the two directly will give us the answer. The trial that will give us this answer is currently recruiting which means that for now, we do not know the answer and won't until 2015.

Karen
PS this a general clarification post. I didn't mean to post a reply to Charm - I thought I was just adding to the bottom of the thread. Sorry.