PURPOSE: To investigate whether interruptions in radiotherapy are associated with decreased survival in a population-based sample of head-and-neck cancer patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database we identified Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 years and older diagnosed with local-regional head-and-neck cancer during the period 1997-2003. We examined claims records of 3864 patients completing radiotherapy for the presence of one or more 5-30-day interruption(s) in therapy. We then performed Cox regression analyses to estimate the association between therapy interruptions and survival. RESULTS: Patients with laryngeal tumors who experienced an interruption in radiotherapy had a 68% (95% confidence interval, 41-200%) increased risk of death, compared with patients with no interruptions. Patients with nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oral, salivary gland, and sinus tumors had similar associations between interruptions and increased risk of death, but these did not reach statistical significance because of small sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment interruptions seem to influence survival time among patients with laryngeal tumors completing a full course of radiotherapy. At all head-and-neck sites, the association between interruptions and survival is sensitive to confounding by stage and other treatments. Further research is needed to develop methods to identify patients most susceptible to interruption-induced mortality.
PURPOSE: To investigate whether interruptions in radiotherapy are associated with decreased survival in a population-based sample of head-and-neck cancerpatients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database we identified Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 years and older diagnosed with local-regional head-and-neck cancer during the period 1997-2003. We examined claims records of 3864 patients completing radiotherapy for the presence of one or more 5-30-day interruption(s) in therapy. We then performed Cox regression analyses to estimate the association between therapy interruptions and survival. RESULTS:Patients with laryngeal tumors who experienced an interruption in radiotherapy had a 68% (95% confidence interval, 41-200%) increased risk of death, compared with patients with no interruptions. Patients with nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oral, salivary gland, and sinus tumors had similar associations between interruptions and increased risk of death, but these did not reach statistical significance because of small sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment interruptions seem to influence survival time among patients with laryngeal tumors completing a full course of radiotherapy. At all head-and-neck sites, the association between interruptions and survival is sensitive to confounding by stage and other treatments. Further research is needed to develop methods to identify patients most susceptible to interruption-induced mortality.
Authors: J O Brömme; M Schmücking; A Arnold; R Giger; D Rauch; D Leiser; L Plasswilm; A Geretschläger; P Ghadjar; D M Aebersold Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Date: 2013-07-04 Impact factor: 3.621
Authors: Lauren A Zimmaro; Sandra E Sephton; Chelsea J Siwik; Kala M Phillips; Whitney N Rebholz; Helena C Kraemer; Janine Giese-Davis; Liz Wilson; Jeffrey M Bumpous; Elizabeth D Cash Journal: Cancer Date: 2018-01-22 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: J López-Torrecilla; D González Sanchis; D Granero Cabañero; E García Miragall; P Almendros Blanco; A Hernandez Machancoses; L Brualla González; J Pastor Peidro; J C Gordo Partearroyo; J Rosello Ferrando Journal: Clin Transl Oncol Date: 2021-02-14 Impact factor: 3.405
Authors: Clayton B Hess; Dominique L Rash; Megan E Daly; D Gregory Farwell; John Bishop; Andrew T Vaughan; Machelle D Wilson; Allen M Chen Journal: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2014-04 Impact factor: 6.223
Authors: Nayan Lamba; Elie Mehanna; Rachel B Kearney; Paul J Catalano; Daphne A Haas-Kogan; Brian M Alexander; Daniel N Cagney; Kathleen A Lee; Ayal A Aizer Journal: Neuro Oncol Date: 2020-09-29 Impact factor: 12.300