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  • Successful treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer using radiotherapy with concurrent cetuximab in a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

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Novel treatment (new drug/intervention; established drug/procedure in new situation)
CASE REPORT
Successful treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer using radiotherapy with concurrent cetuximab in a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
  1. Alexandra Nicoleta Budure1,
  2. Eric Winquist2,3,
  3. David Palma2,3 and
  4. Rohann Jonathan Mark Correa2,3
  1. 1 Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
  2. 2 London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
  3. 3 Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Dr David Palma, David.Palma{at}lhsc.on.ca

Abstract

Herein we present a case of a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease who was diagnosed with locally invasive nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the context of CMT, the use of standard platinum-based radio-sensitising chemotherapy would have been neurotoxic and is contraindicated in patients with CMT. However, no alternate antineoplastic treatment strategies for patients with CMT have been described in the literature. In this case, an innovative approach was taken using radical radiotherapy concurrently with the biological agent cetuximab. The patient did not suffer any neurotoxicity, though he did experience several expected toxicities commonly associated with this regimen. The patient nonetheless completed treatment and has experienced an excellent response both clinically and radiographically and remains disease free.

  • head and neck cancer
  • radiotherapy
  • neuromuscular disease
  • peripheral nerve disease

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2018-228956

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors ANB and RJMC were involved in the conception and design, acquisition of data, drafting and revising the article. EW and DP were involved in revising the article. All authors were involved in the final approval of the version published.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.