David
Erbitux has not been linked to failure in HPV+ve patients ... yet.

There is a signal that this might be the case but to suggest that Erbitux does not work in HPV+ve patients is premature. The current level of evidence for lack of efficacy in this group is weak and contradicted in other equally weak observational cohorts. A retrospective record review in a single centre (which is the evidence being reported through Sloan Kettering) serves as a warning, and reminds us that a prospective trial needs to be conducted to get the true answer. It also serves to remind us that clinicians should not jump on the Erbitux bandwagon too eagerly just because it works well in recurrent disease.

I personally felt that that the evidence supporting cisplatin for a young otherwise healthy person was stronger than that for cetuximab which is why I pushed back when our oncologist suggested Erbitux for Alex. However, I believe it clearly has a place and we just need to wait for the evidence to figure out exactly where that is. I note with alarm that many clinicians have made the "logical leap" and added Erbitux to induction regimens with almost no evidence. At least the negative reports filtering through now, might give them pause for thought.

Luckily for those who will need to make decisions regarding treatment in the future, such a prospective trial is already in progress and we will eventually know how effective Erbitux is compared with cisplatin. Unfortunately results will not be available for a while yet (2015???)