Just another nugget from the Medline CME on OPSCC HPV+ cancer by Dr. Posner:
[quote]A number of trials with drugs like cetuximab have not shown positive results early on or they have had challenging end points, such as overall survival in recurrent metastatic disease. Response and progression-free survival are probably much more important with a drug such as cetuximab. An interim analysis of RTOG 0522 after 3 years is appropriate to see where things are going, but 5 years of data would be better and may prove to show positive results in the HPV-negative population.
[/quote]
I thought about this, because this what my radiologist told me today also, when I pressed him about how many Erbitux patients with HPV+ needed second rounds of radiation in his experience. Works better for smokers.
. My radiologist is wary about reducing radiation levels for all HPV patients although he has dropped his 10% for early stage HPV, so there's hope for DavidCPAs quest.