Phase II Study of Skin Toxicity Dosing of IRESSA (Gefitinib) in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Patients were started on gefitinib 250 mg orally daily for 2 weeks. At 2 weeks, patients were reevaluated and given skin toxicity grade according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria version 3.0 (CTC 3.0). Patients with grade 2 or greater skin toxicity remained on 250 mg daily; in patients with grade 0-1 skin toxicity the dose 250-mg oral dose-escalating dose; each patient received treatment at the dose that produced grade 2 skin toxicity until disease progression or withdrawal.