Application of a preclinical 18-gene classifier to patients with locally advanced HNSCC.

In a previous preclinical trial on human HNSCC xenografts, 18 genes were predictive for adding cetuximab to fractionated radiotherapy. Here, we apply the corresponding 18-gene classifier to two HNSCC patient cohorts treated with combined radiochemotherapy (without cetuximab). We show that the classifier is related to EGFR expression and stratifies patients for loco-regional control (LRC) in both cohorts.