August 21, 2018, Medscape 

The standard of care for human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer remains radiation therapy and cisplatin, say experts, after interim results from a large phase 3 trial comparing another regimen showed worse outcomes. Patients who were treated with radiation and cetuximab had worse overall and progression-free survival, but overall rates of serious (grade 3 to 5) adverse events were similar for both study groups. These top-line results from RTOG 1016 were outlined in a press release issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which funded the trial.