BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of advanced stage head and neck cancer patients are incurable and have a limited life expectancy. This study reports a single institution experience with a hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen for palliation of loco-regionally advanced and incurable HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2005, 110 patients of unresectable HNSCC were treated with a palliative radiotherapy (40Gy in 16 fractions). Distressing symptoms were assessed before treatment. Patients with good objective regression with acceptable toxicity received further escalation of dose till 50Gy. We made three strata to compare symptomatic improvement namely percentage relief <50%, between 50-75% and >75% as compared to baseline. RESULTS: Most common baseline distressing complaints were pain in 109 (99%) patients and dysphagia in 97 (88%) patients. Eleven patients (10%) had complete response (CR) and 80 (73%) patients had complete and partial response (PR). At completion of radiotherapy 26%, 57%, and 17% of patients had <50%, 50-75%, and >75% symptomatic relief, respectively. The overall PFS (defined as either complete disappearance of the disease or non-progression in the irradiated field) at 12 months was 55.1% (95% CI, 40.3%-69.9%). On multivariate analysis weight >50kg (p=0.049) and radiotherapy dose of more than 40Gy (p=0.012) were found to be significant for PFS. Acute and late reactions were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen evaluated is an effective treatment modality for sustained symptoms relief with good response rates and acceptable toxicity.
BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of advanced stage head and neck cancerpatients are incurable and have a limited life expectancy. This study reports a single institution experience with a hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen for palliation of loco-regionally advanced and incurable HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2005, 110 patients of unresectable HNSCC were treated with a palliative radiotherapy (40Gy in 16 fractions). Distressing symptoms were assessed before treatment. Patients with good objective regression with acceptable toxicity received further escalation of dose till 50Gy. We made three strata to compare symptomatic improvement namely percentage relief <50%, between 50-75% and >75% as compared to baseline. RESULTS: Most common baseline distressing complaints were pain in 109 (99%) patients and dysphagia in 97 (88%) patients. Eleven patients (10%) had complete response (CR) and 80 (73%) patients had complete and partial response (PR). At completion of radiotherapy 26%, 57%, and 17% of patients had <50%, 50-75%, and >75% symptomatic relief, respectively. The overall PFS (defined as either complete disappearance of the disease or non-progression in the irradiated field) at 12 months was 55.1% (95% CI, 40.3%-69.9%). On multivariate analysis weight >50kg (p=0.049) and radiotherapy dose of more than 40Gy (p=0.012) were found to be significant for PFS. Acute and late reactions were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen evaluated is an effective treatment modality for sustained symptoms relief with good response rates and acceptable toxicity.
Authors: Anneke Fryen; Iris Brandes; Jörn Wichmann; Hans Christiansen; Frank Tavassol; Martin Durisin; Roland Merten Journal: In Vivo Date: 2022 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.406
Authors: Benjamin H Lok; Ginger Jiang; Stanley Gutiontov; Ryan M Lanning; Sudeepta Sridhara; Eric J Sherman; Chiaojung Jillian Tsai; Sean M McBride; Nadeem Riaz; Nancy Y Lee Journal: Oral Oncol Date: 2015-08-14 Impact factor: 5.337
Authors: K C Lakshmaiah; T M Suresh; K Govind Babu; Nagesh T Sirsath; Lokanatha Dasappa; Linu Jacob Abraham Journal: South Asian J Cancer Date: 2015 Apr-Jun
Authors: Jennifer Ma; Benjamin H Lok; Jingfeng Zong; Stanley I Gutiontov; Xin Cai; Andrew C Bell; Marina Shcherba; Han Xiao; Eric J Sherman; Chiaojung Jillian Tsai; Nadeem Riaz; Sean M McBride; Oren Cahlon; Nancy Y Lee Journal: Int J Part Ther Date: 2018