Study to Investigate the Efficacy of Panitumumab in Platinum-resistant Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cancer

Inclusion criteria

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2, not pregnant.
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck either metastatic or recurrent, judged incurable by surgery or radiation.
• Baseline tumor tissue, sufficient material available for EGFR determination (therapeutic target of panitumumab) and biomarker studies. Patients without available tissue at baseline or with tissue collected longer than 1 year before, may undergo tumor biopsy.
• Progression after or not responding to treatment with at least one cis-platin or carboplatin containing regimen.
• Measurable disease (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours - RECIST 1.1).
• Adequate hematological values, renal and hepatic function.
• Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents

Exclusion criteria

• Platinum-naïve patients.
• Patients previously progressed after a regimen containing EGFR-inhibiting agents (as cetuximab, panitumumab, gefitinib, erlotinib), even if there was an initial response.
• Clinically significant cardiovascular disease (including myocardial infarction, unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia) 1 year before enrollment/randomization.
• History of interstitial lung disease e.g. pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis or evidence of interstitial lung disease on baseline chest computed tomography scan.
• Known or suspected brain metastases.
• Psychiatric disorder precluding understanding of information on trial related topics, giving informed consent
• Known hypersensitivity to panitumumab active ingredient or excipients.
• Any concomitant drugs contraindicated for use with the trial drug according to the Swissmedic approved product information - Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients