Importance of dose in palliative treatment for incurable head and neck cancer with radiotherapy

Hypofractionated Accelerated Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer in Fragile Patients

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for locally advanced non-metastatic head and neck cancer. Elderly and frail patients cannot always tolerate this therapy and no clear guidelines exist for their treatment. This retrospective study aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated radiotherapy for these patients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 65 patients treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy, using a regimen of 57.5 Gy in 23 fractions of 2.5 Gy.

RESULTS

Most patients completed the prescribed treatment. Overall survival at 2 and 5 years was 55% and 33%. Locoregional control at 2 and 5 years was 76% and 51%, respectively. Performance status was an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This radiotherapy schedule was well tolerated, showing a high rate of locoregional control and shortening the overall treatment time. Prospective studies are necessary to establish the most effective treatment for frail patients.

Treatment of elderly patients with head and neck cancer in an aging society: Focus on geriatric assessment and surgical treatment

Previous studies of the treatment of elderly head and neck cancer (HNC) patients were very limited and sometimes controversial. Although conclusions differ across various reports, it is often concluded that advanced chronological age does not directly affect prognosis, but that comorbidities and declines in physical and cognitive functions promote the occurrence of adverse events, especially with surgical treatment. Geriatric assessment (GA) and its screening tools are keys to help us understand overall health status and problems, predict life expectancy and treatment tolerance, and to influence treatment choices and interventions to improve treatment compliance. In addition, personal beliefs and values play a large role in determining policies for HNC treatment for elderly patients, and a multidisciplinary approach is important to support this. In this review, past research on HNC in older adults is presented, and the current evidence is explained, focusing on the management of elderly HNC patients, with an emphasis on the existing reports on each treatment stage and modality, especially the surgical procedures.

Locoregional control and toxicity following high-dose hypofractionated and accelerated palliative radiotherapy regimens in breast cancer

AIMS

For patients with locally advanced primary/recurrent breast cancer, radiotherapy is an effective treatment for locoregional control. 36 Gy in 6 Gy once-weekly fractions is a commonly used schedule, but there are no data comparing local control and toxicity between 36 Gy delivered once-weekly versus accelerated schedules of multiple 6 Gy fractions per week. This retrospective study compared local control rates and acute and late toxicity in patients undergoing 30-36 Gy in 6 Gy fractions over 6 weeks versus more accelerated schedules over 2-3 weeks for an unresected breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who received 30-36 Gy in 6 Gy fractions to an unresected breast cancer ± involved lymph nodes between December 2011 and August 2020 were identified. Patients were grouped into once-weekly versus accelerated fractionation schedules. Response rates, local control and toxicity data were analysed.

RESULTS

In total, 109 patients were identified. The median follow-up duration was 46 months. Forty-seven patients (43%) received once-weekly fractions and 62 patients (57%) received accelerated fractionation schedules. There were no significant differences in baseline tumour characteristics between the groups. Eighty-seven per cent of patients had an objective (complete or partial) response (81% in the once-weekly group; 91% in the accelerated group). The median time to local progression was 23.5 months overall (95% confidence interval 17.8-29.2); 23.5 months (95% confidence interval 18.8-28.1) in the once-weekly group and 19.0 months (95% confidence interval 7.0-31.1) in the accelerated group (P = 0.99). Acute toxicity of any grade occurred in 75% of patients (76% in the once-weekly group; 74% in the accelerated group) and grade 3 toxicity occurred in 7% of patients (7% in the once-weekly group; 8% in the accelerated group). There were no associations between the groups and acute or late toxicity grade (P = 0.78 and P = 0.26, respectively), although one grade 4 late toxicity (skin radionecrosis) occurred in a patient who received five fractions a week and therefore this regimen is not recommended. Study limitations included a lack of statistical power analysis, the necessary grouping of all accelerated patients for analysis and a high rate of censored data.

CONCLUSION

There were no apparent differences in response rate, time to local progression or toxicity between patients who received 30-36 Gy in 6 Gy fractions once-weekly compared with twice-weekly as palliative treatment for locally advanced breast cancer. This regimen appears to be a safe alternative and may be preferred by patients.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Elderly Patients: A Feasibility and Safety Systematic Review for the Clinician

Objective

Radiotherapy (RT) in the head and neck (H&N) site are undoubtedly the most challenging treatments for patients. Older and frail patients are not always able to tolerate it, and there are still no clear guidelines on the type of treatments to be preferred for them. The recommendations for Risk-Adapted H&N Cancer Radiation Therapy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provided by the ASTRO-ESTRO consensus statement achieved a strong agreement about hypofractionated RT (HFRT). A systematic literature review was conducted in order to evaluate the feasibility and safety of HFRT for older patients affected by H&N malignancies.

Materials and Methods

A systematic database search was performed on PubMed and Embase according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Original studies, case series, and case reports describing the use of HFRT (with at least 2.2 Gy fractions) in patients with mean age ≥65 years were included. The analysis was based on the type of study, number of patients, mean age, tumor site, histology, performance status (PS), RT details, concomitant chemotherapy (CT), and described clinical outcomes. All the reported doses have been calculated in equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) and biologically effective dose (BED) using α/β = 10 Gy or α/β = 12 Gy.

Results

We selected 17 papers that met the inclusion criteria and divided them in 4 categories: 6 articles analyze HFRT performed twice daily in repeated cycles, 3 once a day in repeated cycles, 4 in alternative days, and the last 4 in consecutive days.

Conclusion

HFRT seems to be a good treatment with an acceptable prolonged disease control. In older patients fit for radical treatments, a 55 Gy in 20 fractions regimen can be proposed as a valid alternative to the standard fractionated RT, but there are a multitude of hypofractionated regimens, ranging from single fraction, quad shot, and 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-week schedules that all may be appropriate. The correct regimen for a patient depends on many factors, and it represents the result of a more specific and complex decision.

Palliative Radiotherapy for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head-and-Neck Region

BACKGROUND/AIM

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common type of skin cancer. Options for palliative treatment include systemic agents and radiotherapy. Selection of a radiation regimen should consider the patient's survival prognosis. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors of survival after palliative radiotherapy for cSCC of the head-and-neck.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten factors were analyzed for survival in 12 patients including age, gender, tumor site, histological grade, primary tumor stage, lymph node involvement, distant metastases, upfront surgery, radiation dose and completion of radiotherapy.

RESULTS

On univariate analysis, improved survival was significantly associated with lower histological grade (better differentiation) (p=0.022), no distant metastases (p=0.040) and completion of radiotherapy (p=0.014). In the multivariate analysis, lower histological grade (risk ratio=6.05, p=0.100) and completion of radiotherapy (risk ratio=4.87, p=0.115) showed trends.

CONCLUSION

Predictors of survival were identified that can help design individual treatments. Patients require optimal supportive care as completion of radiotherapy was associated with better survival.