Assessment of Treatment Response and Survival in Patients Diagnosed with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer and Treated with Chemoradiotherapy As Part of An Organ-Preservation Treatment Protocol

Year 2019, , 669 - 678, 16.12.2019

Hatice Halis , M. Görkem Aksu , Eda Yirmibeşoğlu Erkal E. Binnaz Sarper

https://doi.org/10.31832/smj.577344

Abstract

Objectives: This study was carried out to explore the overall survival (OS) and
disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients with locally advanced head and
neck cancer who were treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: A total of 54 patients were included in our study, including 35
patients who were treated with chemoradiotherapy and 19 patients who were
treated with radiotherapy only. The primary tumor was irradiated with conformal
or intensity-modulated radiotherapy at an average dose of 70 Gy (64–74), and
lymph nodes at a dose of 50 to 70 Gy depending on risk groups. Treatment
response, survival and disease-free survival rates were identified.

Results: The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 53 months (median=18
months). A clinically and radiologically complete response was observed in 36
(72%) of 50 patients 2 months after the completion of treatment. A partial
response was detected in 12 patients (24%) and progression in 2 patients (4%).
The rates of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) over the
period of 3 years were found to be 51% and 58%, respectively.

Conclusion: Radical radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is an alternative method
of treatment, with acceptable toxicity rates, in locally advanced head and neck
tumors 

Keywords

Head and neck cancer, locally advanced stage, radiotherapy

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