CCCWFU 60307 - Pilot Study to Evaluate the Anti-tumor Effect of Erlotnib Administered Befor Surgery in Operable Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC)

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Identify tissue biomarkers (primarily the level of phosphorylation of individual C-terminal EGFR tyrosine sites, measured by nano-LC-MS/MS and markers of main downstream pathways activation such as P-AKT and P-ERK, measured by nano-LC-MS/MS and by more clinically standardized IHC) that best associate with response to neoadjuvant erlotinib hydrochloride treatment in patients with resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC).
• Determine the best correlations between levels and changes of different individual biomarkers (e.g., levels of C-terminal EGFR phosphorylation and recruited adaptors and markers of downstream pathways activation) in order to evaluate the mechanisms of EGFR pathway activation in HNSCC and mechanisms of EGFR pathway inhibition by erlotinib hydrochloride in HNSCC tissue.
• Evaluate post-erlotinib hydrochloride up-regulation of different receptors and molecules such as HER2 and 3, PDGFR, IGFR, mTOR, src, and aurora kinases, for which there are already specific inhibitors available for clinical studies.

Secondary

• Evaluate the efficacy by overall response, safety, and tolerability of erlotinib hydrochloride before surgery in these patients.
• Evaluate the role of FDG-PET scan as a predictor of response to erlotinib hydrochloride.
• Evaluate the role of PET/CT in measuring the response to short-term treatment with erlotinib hydrochloride.
• Evaluate incidence of risk factors for relapse in the surgical pathology specimens.