Functional organ preservation after chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with loco-regionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2011 Sep;268(9):1349-55. doi: 10.1007/s00405-011-1489-y. Epub 2011 Jan 22.

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the outcome after induction chemotherapy and concurrent multi-drug chemoradiotherapy (IC/CCRT) with or without post-chemoradiation neck dissection in medically fit elderly patients with loco-regionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Retrospective study including 44 elderly patients (median age 71 years; range 66-77 years) with previously untreated, inoperable, histologically proven non-metastatic stage III or IV HNSCC. Following one cycle of IC, two cycles of cis-platinum and 5-fluorouracil CCRT with conventional fractionated radiotherapy up to a dose of 66-70 Gy were administrated. A neck dissection was recommended for patients with node metastasis larger than 3 cm regardless of the response to therapy and for patients who had suspected persistent neck disease 8-12 weeks after completing treatment. Salvage surgery was considered for histologically proven persistent or recurrent tumor in the primary site. Time-to-event data were described using Kaplan-Meier actuarial curves. Overall, 37 patients (84.1%) completed the planned treatment. There were no cases of treatment-related deaths. Twenty-nine patients (65.9%) developed severe toxicities with grade 4 toxicity accounting for 22.7%. The median follow-up time in survivors was 41 months. Three-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and functional progression-free survival estimates were 70.9, 67.0, and 57.3%, respectively. In selected medically fit elderly patients with loco-regionally advanced HNSCC, cis-platinum-based chemoradiotherapy can be successfully applied, with moderate adverse events, in attempt to preserve a functional upper aerodigestive tract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods*
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cohort Studies
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Survival Analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cisplatin
  • Fluorouracil