There is no assay for it in HNC, but ask. I can't have many chemo's anymore, especially Cisplatin, and just finished Carboplatin, Protons in January, and that was easier than any other chemo, and Erbitux, at least for me. I've seen the numbers, but every trial, study may have different ones, some contradicting one another, and your doctors will know best. I noted on your signature you completed radiation in February or March? Is the Erbitux for maintenance without radiation? They were thinking about doing that for me, and that is different than first line treatment, but is also used as first line treatment, but cisplatin is preferred. They also use another targeted therapy, Tarceva, for maintenance, and chemoprevention, but found out it didn't work, and my oncologists said, no.

http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2012/11/30/JCO.2012.46.9049

Good luck.

10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs