Your recollection is perfect, Brian. My result, so far, is as good as it gets. I also understand that the trial is phase 1 and is mostly an MTD study. It also seems as though this is a trial that is looking for a prophylaxis for recurrence, and it is specifically designed for people who have completed treatment and do not show evidence of disease. The inclusion criteria are listed as:

"Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

-- Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck Stage III, IVA, or IVB

-- Must have completed cisplatin- or carboplatin-based chemoradiotherapy within the past 4-12 weeks

-- Prior radiotherapy must have been given with a radical intent with receipt of at least 90% of planned dose

-- No evidence of disease or presence of inoperable minimal residual disease, defined by 1 of the following:

- Complete response at primary tumor site and nodes (with or without nodal surgery after chemoradiotherapy)

- Negative lymph node status (by physical or radiological exam) AND persistent tumefaction less than 25% of original tumor size or residual mass due to scarring

- Tumor tissue samples available for EGFRvIII mutation analysis

- No known brain metastasis"

This almost seems to have been written for me. Completion of chemoradio therapy treatment with complete response and no evidence of continued disease.

Since recurrence of SCC is an ongoing fear of all, this just seemed to me to be a great trial for me. It is designed for prevention of recurrence, not for cure. The drug is generally safe and has been approved for use in NSCLC as a seocnd or third line chemo treatment.

The downside (and this is just my own cynicism) that I see is that if a recurrence does occur while in the study, will the use of the drug prevent the use of known effective treatments.

It was all of this (plus my own desire to DO something to help my self . . . and others) that led me to look into post-treatment treatments.

Perhaps I am misguided.

Thanks for the input.

Tim