Very accelerated radiation therapy: preliminary results in locally unresectable head and neck carcinomas

Late Local Treatment Morbidity after Accelerated Radiotherapy or Alternating Chemoradiotherapy for Advanced Head and Neck Carcinoma

Background

To report local long-term morbidity after concomitant boost radiotherapy (AFRT) or alternating chemoradiotherapy (CTRT), we analyzed the toxicity data recorded in 168 patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated at our institution within phase II-III studies.

Patients and Methods

All patients enrolled in three consecutive phase II-III studies and followed for a minimum of three months after the end of treatment were included in the present analysis. Local late reactions were scored prospectively. The actuarial incidence of grade 2 or more (2-4) late local toxicity according to RTOG/EORTC was taken as endpoint. The median follow-up is 32.0 months (range, 3.3-138.1 months). For living patients the minimum and median follow-up are 12.1 and 69.3 months, respectively.

Results

The five-year actuarial incidence of grade 2+ and grade 3+ toxicity are 56.7 ± 5% and 21 ± 4%, respectively. At multivariate analysis, acute mucositis grade, complementary surgery, primary site and performance status proved to be independent predictive factors of grade 2+ late toxicity with P values of <0.001, 0.009, 0.022 and 0.033, respectively. No effect was found for treatment itself on the incidence of late toxicity, although patients treated with accelerated radiotherapy had a higher probability of confluent mucositis than patients treated with alternating chemoradiotherapy (68% vs 32%, P <0.01).

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of surviving patients develops late complications, although severe irreversible reactions occur in a minority of patients. Acute local toxicity can be used to predict local late toxicity that arises within five years of the end of treatment.

Nonstandard Fractionation Schedules in Radiation Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer: A Review

The authors present an updated review of the clinical trials on hyperfractionated and accelerated fractionation schedules in radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. The available results in terms of survival and local control, and acute and late toxicity data are summarized in order to show the current status of this research field. The new breed of fractionation schedules that are on study, designed on the ground of new rationales, are presented as well. Finally, an introductory overview of combination therapy including non standard fractionation radiotherapy associated with chemotherapy is reported70.

Early experience with a hybrid accelerated radiotherapy schedule for locally advanced head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to determine feasibility and efficacy of a hybrid radiotherapy schedule in locally advanced head and neck cancer.

METHODS

Seventy-three patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer were irradiated according to a hybrid accelerated schedule consisting of 20 fractions of 2 Gy (once daily), followed by 20 fractions of 1.6 Gy (twice daily), to a total dose of 72 Gy.

RESULTS

Locoregional control was 55% after 2 years. Overall survival was 59%, disease-specific survival was 63%, and disease-free survival was 46%. Acute toxicity was prospectively scored in all 73 patients: the most frequent toxicities were mucositis (50.7%, grade 3), dysphagia (47.9%, grade 3), and dermatitis (34.5%, grade 3). All patients were treated to full dose, without treatment interruption.

CONCLUSION

With this regimen, acceptable locoregional control and survival rates are achieved. Toxicity was well manageable, suggesting that a combination of this schedule with concomitant chemotherapy is possible and could lead to further improvement in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Phase III randomized trial of very accelerated radiation therapy compared with conventional radiation therapy in squamous cell head and neck cancer: a GORTEC trial

PURPOSE

With the aim to increase the dose intensity of radiation therapy (RT), and subsequently the locoregional control rate, a very accelerated RT regimen was compared with conventional RT in a series of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1994 and 1998, 268 patients with T3 or T4, N0 to N3 HNSCC (staged by 1997 International Union Against Cancer criteria) that was not eligible for surgery were randomly assigned to receive either conventional RT, delivering 70 Gy in 7 weeks to the primary tumor and 35 fractions of 2 Gy over 49 days, or to receive very accelerated RT, delivering 62 to 64 Gy in 31 to 32 fractions of 2 Gy over 22 to 23 days (2 Gy/fraction bid).

RESULTS

The most common tumor site was the oropharynx and most of the patients (70%) had T4 and N1 to N3 tumors in 72% of patients. The main patient and tumor characteristics were well-balanced between the two arms. The median total doses were 63 Gy (accelerated) and 70 Gy (conventional), with a median overall time of 22 days and 48 days, respectively. Acute mucositis was markedly increased in the accelerated-RT arm (P < .001). The locoregional control rate was improved by 24% at 6 years with accelerated RT. In contrast, disease-free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between the two arms. There was no difference in late effects between the two arms.

CONCLUSION

The very accelerated RT regimen was feasible and provided a major benefit in locoregional control but had a modest effect on survival.

Intravenous amifostine during chemoradiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer: a randomized placebo-controlled phase III study

PURPOSE

Clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy and safety of intravenous (i.v.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) amifostine for reducing xerostomia and mucositis after radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase III study evaluated the efficacy and safety of i.v. amifostine during radiochemotherapy for head-and-neck cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients from European and American study centers received i.v. amifostine 300 mg/m2 (n = 67) or placebo (n = 65) before carboplatin 70 mg/m2 and radiotherapy on Days 1 to 5 and 21 to 25, and i.v. amifostine 200 mg/m2 or placebo before radiotherapy on other days.

RESULTS

Toxicity incidences were (amifostine, placebo, p value): Grade 2 or higher acute xerostomia (39%, 34%, 0.715), Grade 3 or higher acute mucositis (39%, 22%, 0.055), Grade 2 or higher late xerostomia (37%, 24%, 0.235), and Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events (42%, 20%, 0.008). One-year rates of locoregional failure, progression-free survival, and overall survival were not significantly different between treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

The used amifostine doses were not able to reduce the toxicity of simultaneous radiochemotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. The safety of amifostine and the lack of tumor protection were consistent with previous studies.

Salvage surgery after failure of very accelerated radiotherapy in advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy and toxicity of salvage surgery for local or cervical nodal recurrence after accelerated radiotherapy for locally advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We reviewed the medical records of the 136 patients with HNSCC who had been treated in three consecutive clinical trials at the Institut Gustave-Roussy using a very accelerated radiotherapy regimen (62 to 64 Gy with 2 daily fractions of 1.8 to 2 Gy over 3.5 weeks). Sixty-nine patients of the 136 initial patients (51%) had local or neck lymph nodes relapse, or both.

RESULTS

Sixteen of these 69 patients (23%) had undergone salvage surgery for recurrence locally (n = 8) or in the cervical nodes (n = 8). All 16 had initially been diagnosed with locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma (T4, 11 patients; T3, 5 patients), and 13 had initially had cervical node involvement. After salvage surgery, 6 patients had had a local recurrence; 7, cervical node recurrence; and 3, distant metastasis. Thus, salvage surgery had been successful only in 3 patients. The 3- and 5-year overall actuarial survival rates were 20% and 11%, respectively. Eight patients had major postoperative wound complications, including carotid rupture in three cases.

CONCLUSION

Salvage surgery for relapse after very accelerated radiotherapy for advanced HNSCC is infrequently feasible and is of limited survival benefit. It should be used only in carefully selected cases.

New Radiation Therapy Techniques for the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

This article reviews the most recent technology used in the treatment of head and neck cancer. It discusses brachytherapy, new ways to mix radionuclides for enhanced radiobiologic effects, and different fractionation schemes that have grown in clinical importance. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy has become a mainstay in head and neck cancer treatment, and the authors discuss several popular and emerging approaches. Patient immobilization and imaging are also discussed.

Concomitant radiochemotherapy or accelerated radiotherapy: Analysis of two randomized trials of the French Head and Neck Cancer Group (GORTEC)

In the early 1990s, when conventional radiotherapy (RT) was the standard of care in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), two main options were being tested to improve the efficacy and the therapeutic ratio of RT. The first approach evaluated the effect of adding chemotherapy (CT) simultaneously to RT (RT-CT), while the second approach assessed the effect of modified fractionated RT. To answer these two questions, in 1994, the French Group for Head and Neck Oncology Radiotherapy (GORTEC) initiated two randomized trials. A total of 494 patients were entered in these two parallel phase III multicenter trials comparing conventional RT (70 Gy in 35 fractions) either with concomitant RT-CT (226 patients; 70 Gy in 35 fractions with three cycles of a 4-day regimen comprising carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil [5FU]) or with very accelerated RT (268 patients) delivering 64 Gy in 3 weeks. The 5-year overall survival (OS), specific disease-free survival (DFS), and local-regional control rates were improved in favor of simultaneous RT-CT, whereas local-regional control was significantly improved with accelerated RT, along with a marginal effect on OS and DFS. This increased antitumor efficacy was in both cases associated with a marked increase in acute RT-induced toxicity, which was more pronounced with accelerated RT, whereas late effects were marginally increased with the addition of CT and not influenced by accelerated RT. We conclude that both concomitant RT-CT and accelerated RT improved tumor control rates, as compared to conventional RT, along with increased but manageable toxicity. The two regimens are currently being tested in an ongoing randomized study and also being compared to moderately accelerated RT and concomitant CT.

Accelerated radiation therapy, seven fractions per week, for advanced head and neck cancer--a feasibility study

AIM

The feasibility and improved efficacy of six conventional fractions per week has previously been proven in a Danish randomized trial. We tested the tolerance and efficacy of seven conventional fractions per week using a concomitant boost technique.

METHODS

From September 1996 to May 1998, 20 patients with squamous cancer of the head and neck were treated with radiation alone. The site of disease was oropharynx in 35%, larynx in 30%, oral cavity 20%, and hypopharynx in 15%. All patients had stage III (10%)/IV (90%) disease. The planned total dose to gross disease was 66 Gy delivered in 33 fractions of 2 Gy each in 31 days. Large volumes were treated to 46 Gy, 2 Gy per fraction, once each morning, Monday-Friday. Boosts to gross disease consisted of 20 Gy in 10 fractions > or = 6 h after the morning dose on Tuesday and Thursday.

RESULTS

Acute toxicity > or = grade 3 was mucous membrane 75%, pharynx 60%, skin 65%, and larynx 35%. One acute toxicity was fatal. Chronic toxicity > or = grade 3 (three patients) was mucous membrane 5%, pharynx 10%, skin 5%, salivary 15%, and larynx 5%. All patients with grade III or greater late toxicity had grade III acute toxicity in each toxicity category. At 30 months Kaplan-Meier survival is 55%, and local control is 39%.

CONCLUSIONS

Without increasing resource utilization this scheme accelerates treatment by 30%. As expected acute toxicity is high but manageable. Chronic toxicity appears comparable to other altered fractionation strategies however the median follow up is only 30 months more toxicity may emerge as the data matures. We plan further trials using 1.8 Gy fractions to reduce toxicity.

Alternating chemoradiotherapy versus partly accelerated radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: results from a phase III randomized trial

BACKGROUND

The authors previously have found that in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCC-HN), alternating chemoradiotherapy (ALT) was superior to low-total-dose conventional radiotherapy alone. The purpose of this randomized trial was to compare the same chemoradiotherapy approach with high-total-dose partly accelerated radiotherapy.

METHODS

During 6 years, 136 consecutive patients with previously untreated unfavorable Stage II or Stage III-IV (International Union Against Cancer) SCC of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to chemotherapy consisting of 4 cycles of intravenous cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) of body surface area per day for 5 consecutive days) and 5-fluorouracil (200 mg/m(2) per day for 5 consecutive days; weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10) alternated with three 2-week courses of radiotherapy (20 grays [Gy] per course, 2 Gy per day, 5 days per week; ALT, 70 patients) or to partly accelerated radiotherapy with final concomitant boost technique (75 Gy/40 fractions in 6 weeks; partly accelerated radiotherapy [PA-RT], 66 patients).

RESULTS

At the median follow-up of 60 months (range, 30-102 months), no statistical differences were observed in overall survival, progression free survival, or locoregional control between the 2 treatments. Actuarial 3-year overall survival and progression free survival were 37% and 35%, respectively, in the ALT group and 29% and 27%, respectively, in PA-RT group. The median overall survival and progression free survival were 24 and 15 months, respectively, in the ALT arm and 18 and 11 months, respectively, in PA-RT arm. Actuarial 3-year locoregional control rates were 32% in the ALT group and 27% in the PA-RT group. At multivariate analysis, tumor classification was the only factor that emerged as a significant independent variable affecting overall survival. Patients treated in the PA-RT arm experienced higher Grade 3+ (World Health Organization) acute skin and mucosal reactions than patients in the ALT arm. Moreover, local late mucosal and skin toxicities occurred more often in patients treated with PA-RT.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial failed to disclose statistically significant differences in the outcome of patients treated with either ALT or PA-RT. Therefore, definitive conclusions could not be made. However, acute skin effects and late mucosal and skin toxicities above the clavicles appeared to be significantly lower with chemoradiotherapy.

[Concomitant bifractionated radiotherapy and chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in locally progressive, non-resectable epidermoid carcinomas of the pharynx: ten years experience at the Antoine Lacassagne center]

PURPOSE

Patients suffering from locally advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and hypopharynx treated with radiotherapy alone have a poor prognosis. More than 70% of patients die within 5 years mainly due to local recurrences. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the Antoine Lacassagne Cancer Center's experience in a treatment by concomitant bid radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Evaluation was based on analysis of the toxicity, the response rates, the survival, and the clinical prognostic factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1992 to 2000, 92 consecutive patients were treated in our single institution. All of them had stage IV, unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and they received continuous bid radiotherapy (two daily fractions of 1.2 Gy, 5 days a week, with a 6-h minimal interval between fractions). Total radiotherapy dose was 80.4 Gy on the oropharynx and 75.6 Gy on the hypopharynx. Two or three chemotherapy courses of cisplatin (CP)-5-fluorouracil (5FU) were given during radiotherapy at 21-day intervals (third not delivered after the end of the radiotherapy). CP dose was 100 mg/m2 (day 1) and 5-FU was given as 5-day continuous infusion (750 mg/m2/day at 1st course; 430 mg/m2/day at 2nd and 3rd courses). Special attention was paid to supportive care, particularly in terms of enteral nutrition and mucositis prevention by low-level laser energy.

RESULTS

Acute toxicity was marked and included WHO grade III/IV mucositis (89%, 16% of them being grade IV), WHO grade III dermatitis (72%) and grade III/IV neutropenia (61%). This toxicity was significant but manageable with optimised supportive care, and never led to interruption of treatment for more than 1 week, although there were two toxic deaths. Complete global response rate at 6 months was 74%. Overall global survival at 1 and 2 years was 72% and 50% respectively, with a median follow-up of 17 months. Prognostic factors for overall survival were the Karnofsky index (71% survival at 3 years for patients with a Karnofsky index of 90-100% versus 30% for patients with a Karnofsky index of 80% versus 0% for patients with a Karnofsky index of 60-70%, p = 0.0001) and tumor location (55% at 3 years for oropharynx versus 37% for panpharynx versus 28% for hypopharynx, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

These results confirm the efficacy of concomitant bid radiotherapy and chemotherapy in advanced unresectable tumor of the pharynx. The improvement in results will essentially depend on our capacity to restore in a good nutritional status the patients before beginning this heavy treatment.

Altered fractionation in definitive irradiation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

The likelihood of local control after radiation therapy may be improved by increasing total dose or decreasing overall time. The probability of late complications increases with dose per fraction. Altered fractionation techniques usually employ two or more fractions per day using a dose per fraction that is similar or less than that employed in conventional fractionation. Altered fractionation may be broadly classified as hyperfractionation or accelerated fractionation. Data suggest that altered fractionation schedules may improve local control (and to a lesser extent, survival) compared with conventional irradiation.

A randomized study of very accelerated radiotherapy with and without amifostine in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess whether amifostine could minimize acute mucositis induced by a very accelerated irradiation regimen in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between May 1996 and February 1998, 26 patients with an inoperable nonmetastatic Stage IV HNSCC were entered in this study. The treatment consisted of very accelerated radiotherapy given 64 Gy in 3.5 weeks. The patients were randomized to receive or not 150 mg/m(2), amifostine (Ethyol, U.S. Bioscience) 15-30 min prior to each radiation session.

RESULTS

Of the 13 patients who received amifostine, definitive interruption of amifostine occurred in 5 cases (38%), due to tolerance problems (vomiting, liver enzyme elevation, generalized erythema). The distribution of Grade 4 mucositis (WHO) was 1 case versus 8 cases, with and without amifostine, respectively. The mean duration of "at least Grade 3" mucositis (WHO) was 25.1 days versus 49.2 days with and without amifostine (p = 0.03). In the amifostine group, 11/13 of the patients required a feeding tube (nasogastric tube or medical gastrostomy), because of acute mucositis, whereas in the control group a feeding tube was necessary in all cases. The mean duration of the use of this feeding tube was 1 month versus 2.5 months with and without amifostine respectively (p < 0.01). Local-regional control was not different between both arms with a median follow-up of 15 months.

CONCLUSION

Despite the limited number of patients, this pilot randomized study suggests that amifostine was able to markedly reduce the severity and duration of mucositis induced by very accelerated radiotherapy. However, the tolerance of this twice daily amifostine schedule was relatively poor.

Altered fractionation: limited by mucosal reactions?

The effectiveness of accelerated fractionation and hyperfractionation in cancer of the head and neck has been confirmed by randomized studies. These new fractionation strategies are almost invariably accompanied by an increase of early normal tissue reactions, in particular mucosal reactions. This paper presents a survey of the available experimental and clinical mucositis data and aims to assess to what extent the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa is limiting to treatment intensification by altered fractionation. The rate of dose delivery is the most important determinant for early radiation reactions. With accelerated radiotherapy, relative to a conventional treatment of 7 weeks, the achievable gain in treatment time is 2 weeks at most with the mucosa being the limiting tissue. Any further acceleration requires a reduction of dose. Manipulations with the temporal distribution of dose, fraction dose, and optimization of interfraction intervals can improve tolerance but probably do not allow significant further intensification of the existing accelerated schedules. Dose escalation by hyperfractionation does not seem to be directly limited by early mucosal reactions. Late reacting tissues are more likely to limit intensification of these schedules. Suggestions for further improvement of treatment outcome include: the generation of a potent agent which can ameliorate radiation mucositis and so permit further intensification of radiotherapy schedules; combination of altered fractionation schedules with hypoxic modifiers; and tailoring of the treatment strategy based on patient and tumour characteristics.

Phase II evaluation of high dose accelerated radiotherapy for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Anaplastic thyroid cancer responds poorly to conventional radiotherapy and prognosis in the absence of effective chemotherapy is dismal. The median survival following diagnosis is only 4 months and the majority of patients die with uncontrolled local disease. This study describes the use of accelerated radiotherapy aiming to improve local response in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Toxicity was assessed prospectively.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seventeen patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma were treated and assessed for both outcome and treatment toxicity. Eight further patients with primary carcinomas arising in the neck were also treated with this protocol but were assessed for treatment toxicity only. Patients were treated twice daily, 5 days a week, to a total dose of 60.8 Gy in 32 fractions over 20-24 days in two or three phases.

RESULTS

Three patients with anaplastic carcinoma demonstrated a complete clinical response and seven patients achieved a partial response. Five patients had stable disease and two patients died before radiotherapy was completed. Toxicity from oesophagitis and dysphagia was high with 10 patients requiring intravenous fluids or nasogastric tube feeding.

CONCLUSION

This approach improved the response rate to radiotherapy but toxicity was unacceptable. A modified accelerated radiotherapy protocol is being explored.

Altered fractionation in radiation therapy for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Following is a review of altered fractionation in radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. The goals of altered fractionation are to increase local-regional control and/or reduce the risk of late complications. Altered fractionation schedules can be broadly classified as accelerated fractionation and hyperfractionation. Data indicate that some of these schedules, particularly hyperfractionated radiation therapy, offer improved results compared to conventionally fractionated radiation therapy. Most investigators have observed no significant increased risk of late complications with the dose-fractionation schedules described.

Concomitant b.i.d. radiotherapy and chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in unresectable squamous-cell carcinoma of the pharynx: clinical and pharmacological data of a French multicenter phase II study

PURPOSE

The aim of this phase II study conducted on unresectable squamous cell carcinoma (USCC) of the oro- and hypopharynx was to associate twice-a-day (b.i.d.) continuous nonaccelerated radiotherapy with concomitant cisplatin (CP)-5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy, both given at full dose. Feasibility, efficacy, survival, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships were analyzed.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Fifty-four consecutive patients with strictly USCC of oro- and/or hypopharynx received continuous b.i.d. radiotherapy (RT) (2 daily fractions of 1.2 Gy, 5 days a week, with a 6-h minimal interval between fractions). Total RT dose was 80.4 Gy on the oropharynx and 75.6 Gy on the hypopharynx. Three chemotherapy (CT) courses of CP-5-FU were given during RT at 21-day intervals (third not delivered after the end of RT). CP dose was 100 mg/m2 (day 1) and 5-FU was given as 5-day continuous infusion (day 2-day 6: 750 mg/m2/day cycle 1, 750 mg total dose/day cycle 2 and 3). Pharmacokinetics was performed for 5-FU (105 h follow-up) and CP (single sample at 16 h). Special attention was paid to supportive care.

RESULTS

Good feasibility of RT was observed (85.2% of patients with total dose > 75 Gy). Five patients received 1 CT cycle, 34: 2 cycles, and 15: 3 cycles. The most frequent and severe acute toxicities were mucositis with grade 3-4 occurring in 28% at cycle 1 and 86% at cycle 2, as well as neutropenia (43% at cycle 2). Locoregional control at 6 months was observed in 66.7% of patients. No late toxicity above grade 2 RTOG was noticed. CP dose and 5-FU AUC(0-105h) were significantly linked to grade 3-4 neutropenia (cycle 2). Cumulative total platinum (Pt) concentration and Karnofsky index were the only independent predictors of locoregional control at 6 months. Finally, total RT dose and total Pt concentration were the only independent predictors of specific survival.

CONCLUSION

This protocol showed good locoregional response with an acceptable toxicity profile. Pharmacokinetic survey is probably an effective approach to further reduce toxicity and improve efficacy. A multicentric randomized phase III study, now underway, should confirm these encouraging results.

Selective cytoprotection with amifostine in concurrent radiochemotherapy for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Amifostine has reduced toxicities associated with radiation therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. In a phase II randomized trial, we investigated the ability of amifostine to reduce the toxicity of carboplatin plus radiotherapy (RCT) in patients with head and neck cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck received RCT (following surgery or as primary treatment). Radiotherapy was given five days per week with daily fractions of 2 Gy, up to a total dose of 60 Gy in conjunction with carboplatin 70 mg/m2 on days 1 through 5 and days 21 through 26. Eligible patients were randomised to receive RCT alone or preceded by a rapid infusion of amifostine (500 mg) on the days when carboplatin was administered.

RESULTS

Patients receiving amifostine + RCT (n = 25) had significantly reduced mucositis (P = 0.0001) and xerostomia (P = 0.0001) in comparison with patients receiving RCT alone (n = 14). Additionally, patients receiving amifostine + RCT had significantly less thrombocytopenia (P = 0.001) and leukopenia (P = 0.001). At 12 months following therapy, 79% of patients receiving amifostine + RCT had no evidence of disease compared with 64% of those receiving RCT alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Amifostine reduces the RCT-induced toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer and has no negative impact on antitumour efficacy.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the larynx: a case which responded completely to radiotherapy and a review of the literature

Most laryngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas account for < 1% of cancers of the larynx. Among them, mucoepidermoid carcinoma is extremely rare and there is little agreement about the treatment of this carcinoma. We encountered one patient with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the bilateral vocal cords (T1bN0M0, Stage 1). For this, most investigators recommended a surgical procedure. However, because of his old age, the early stage and low grade of histopathology, we treated this patient with radiotherapy alone, delivered by accelerated hyperfractionation, which is a more effective strategy for treating radioresistant tumors than conventional irradiation. Following radiotherapy, the tumor disappeared and the patient has been alive and well for more than six years. An old patient with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the larynx was successfully treated with radiotherapy alone.

Predictive assays of radiation response in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a review of the Institute Gustave Roussy experience

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to present the updated Institut Gustave Roussy experience of the predictive value of three biological parameters in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC) treated with radiation therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Three parameters have been investigated independently: tumor cell kinetics (TS, Tpot and LI), oxygen tension measurements (PO2) and intrinsic radiosensitivity (SF2Gy).

RESULTS

No relationship has been found between local-regional control and Tpot or LI in a series of 74 patients. Our data also support that the surviving fraction at 2 Gy, (SF2) was unlikely to predict the clinical outcome in a series of 92 patients. Differences in PO2 measurements have been observed between tumors, and tumor oxygenation was lower than that of normal tissue for the majority of patients. However PO2 measurements did not predict clinical outcome, but further investigations are needed to draw definitive conclusions, given the limited number of patients entered in our study (35 patients). In addition, we were able to measure the three parameters in 10 patients showing no correlation between PO2, SF2 and Tpot.

CONCLUSIONS

The method used to evaluate Tpot and SF2 did not provide clinically relevant predictive parameters for this type of cancer. Further investigations are needed to assess the predictive value of PO2 measurements and of new biological parameters in a multiparametric approach, taking into account other possible clinical and biological confounding factors.

Split-course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer: influence of split time and overall treatment time on local control

We analyzed 52 patients with stage III and IV head and neck cancer who were given split-course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy with curative intent, focusing particularly on the influence of split-time on local control. An initial complete response was achieved in 16 patients (31%), and the rate of persistent local control at 3 years was 23%. The cause specific survival rate at 3 years was 29%. Univariate analysis of local control according to the split-time duration and overall treatment time showed that shorter duration (< or = 14 days or < or = 45 days, respectively) had a significantly positive impact on local control (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis using local control as an endpoint also demonstrated that gender (women showing a better outcome than men) and split-time (< or = 14 days was better than > 14 days) were statistically significant factors for local control. These results suggest that shortening the split-time during radiotherapy might improve local control in accelerated hyperfractionation.

Feasibility and outcome of a progressively accelerated concomitant boost radiotherapy schedule for head and neck carcinomas

PURPOSE

To evaluate toxicity and treatment outcome in patients with head and neck carcinomas treated with a modified bifractionated concomitant boost radiotherapy schedule.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eighty-five patients were treated from February 1991 to October 1995. According to clinical TN stage 23 tumors were T1, 33 T2, 20 T3, 9 T4, 44 N0, and 41 N1-N3. The primary tumor was located in the oral cavity in 6 patients, oropharynx in 36, larynx in 19, hypopharynx in 17, and nasopharynx in 7. The basic treatment delivered 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions, once a day, to the primary site and both sides of the neck. During the last 3.5 weeks, a boost to the initial gross disease was delivered in 13 fractions of 1.5 Gy each as a second daily fraction in a progressively accelerated schedule (total dose 69.9 Gy). Eighteen patients had a uni- or bilateral neck dissection, and 2 an adenectomy before radiotherapy. The median follow-up for the surviving patients was 28 months (range: 3-61 months).

RESULTS

All the patients completed the planned radiotherapy schedule. According to the RTOG scoring system, 57 patients (67%) presented with Grade 3-4 acute toxicity. Grade 3 dysphagia was observed in 20 patients (23.5%). Three patients died during the 3 months following the treatment. Among 73 patients evaluable for late effects, five developed Grade 3-4 complications. At 3 years actuarial loco-regional control was 67% and overall survival was 62%.

CONCLUSIONS

Although longer follow-up is needed to evaluate the definitive results, we conclude that this particular concomitant boost schedule is feasible and appears to be effective. While acute toxicity was greater than in monofractionated schedules, it was manageable, provided that supportive care measures were implemented in a timely fashion.

A randomised trial of accelerated versus conventional radiotherapy in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To study the effect of accelerated radiation treatment in locally advanced head and neck cancer, a prospective randomised trial was conducted comparing two fractionation schemes which differed only in the overall treatment time; fraction size and total dose were the same in both arms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-two patients with stage 3 or 4 squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx considered suitable for radical radiotherapy as primary treatment were stratified by site and stage and randomised to receive 66 Gy in 33 2 Gy daily fractions in 45-48 days (o.d.) or 66 Gy in 33 2 Gy twice daily fractions in 22-25 days (b.i.d.).

RESULTS

An initial improved clinical response in tumour control in the b.i.d. arm was not sustained and the 3 year recurrence free survival and overall survival rates were similar and not significantly different. The actuarial recurrence free survival was 49.1% in the b.i.d. arm and 44.3% in the o.d. arm. The disease free 3 year survival was 59.4% and 56.8%, respectively. The acute and late normal tissue effects were scored using the RTOG scale. As expected the acute effects were much greater in the b.i.d. arm. The combined grade 3 and 4 late effects were similar but the proportion of grade 4 reactions was significantly higher in the b.i.d. arm. The increase in grade 4 toxicity caused the trial to be discontinued after 82 of the planned 226 patients had been randomised.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of the normal tissue effects and a failure to demonstrate sustained local control does not support this fractionation scheme in patients with such extensive head and neck cancer.

Early and long-term results of an original accelerated radiation therapy schedule in head and neck carcinoma

From November 1985 until October 1988, 39 patients with head and neck carcinoma (6 patients stage I-II and 33 stage III-IV) were treated with an accelerated radiotherapy schedule designed to deliver 69.6 Gy over a period of 5 weeks. Treatment was started with 20 Gy in 10 daily fractions to sites of initial macroscopic involvement, followed by bi-fractionated radiotherapy (2 x 1.6 Gy/day) to a larger head and neck volume. Twenty patients received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. A homolateral radical neck dissection was performed in 2 patients. Twenty-six patients (66.6%) presented with acute grade 3 complications and 5 patients (13%) with grade 4 complications. Thirteen patients (33.3%) were hospitalized for supportive care. None of the patients who were evaluated on a long-term basis developed grade 3 or 4 late complications. The 5-year loco-regional control and overall survival rates were 62.4% and 33.6% respectively. Although acute toxicity is higher than in monofractionated schedules, it is manageable, and can be considered acceptable in the light of the apparently good loco-regional control thus obtained. This schedule is one of several accelerated radiotherapy programs which might merit study in prospective trials.

Potential doubling time and clinical outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with 70 GY in 7 weeks

PURPOSE

To study the predictive value of pretreatment potential doubling time and labeling index, as measured by flow cytometry in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with conventional radiotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

70 patients with a squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and 4 patients with another involved head and neck site were entered in this prospective study. The duration of the S phase (TS), the labeling index (LI), and the potential doubling time (Tpot) were obtained by flow cytometry measurements of a tumor biopsy obtained after i.v. injection of 200 mg bromodeoxyuridine to the patient. The treatment consisted of 70 Gy in 7 weeks, 2 Gy per fraction and five fractions per week.

RESULTS

The mean and median LI were 7.7% (standard deviation, SD: 5.0) and 6.3%, respectively. The mean and median TS were 9.3 h (SD: 3.6) and 8.3 h, respectively. The mean and median Tpot were 5.6 days (SD: 5.4) and 4.6 days, respectively. No significant relationship was found between the Tpot or LI and the tumor stage (T), nodal status (N), histological grade, and the site of the primary within the oropharynx. The only parameter significantly associated with an increased risk of local relapse was the tumor stage (p < 0.001). The mean Tpot for the group of tumors that relapsed locally was 5.3 days (SD: 3.3), compared to 6.1 days (SD: 4.08) for those who did not relapse locally (NS). Two parameters were significantly associated with a decrease in disease-free (DFS) and overall survival, namely the tumor stage (p < 0.005, and p < 0.001, respectively, for DFS and overall survival) and nodal involvement (p = 0.02 and (p < 0.005, respectively, for DFS and overall survival). The TS, LI, DNA index, and Tpot were not significantly associated with local relapse, DFS, and survival, either in the univariate or in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The method used to evaluate tumor cell kinetics did not provide clinically relevant kinetic parameters for this type of cancer. The classic prognostic factors (tumor stage and nodal status) were strongly associated with clinical outcome.