Combined Chemoradiotherapy vs Radiotherapy Alone for LocallyAdvanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Kim, Sung Rok; Kim, Chul Soo; Kim, Re Hwe; Suh, Hyun Suk; Jeong, Hyeon Ju

Abstract

PURPOSE: The traditional approach with surgery and/or radiotherapy(RT) for advanced head and neck cancer provides anticipated cure rates of 10-65% depending on stages and sites. Recently, combined modality with chemotherapy have been extensively investigated in attempts to improve survival and local control. We retrospectively analysed our experience of 31 patients with advanced head and neck cancer
METHODS
AND MATERIALS: From November 1983 to October 1994, 31 patients with Stage II and IV squamous cell head and neck cancer were treated with RT. Sixteen patients were treated with RT alone. and 15 patients were treated with combined RT plus chemotherapy. All patients were treated with 4-MV LINAC and radiation dose ranged from 5000 cGy to 7760 cGy(median 7010 cGy). In combined group. 7 patients were treated with cis-platin plus 5-FU, 2 patients were treated with methotrexate plus leucovorin plus 5-FU plus cisplatin or carboplatin, and 6 patients were treated with cisplatin as a radiosensitizer.
RESULTS
Median follow up period was 16 months (range 4-134 months). The major responses (CR+PR) were noted in 10 patient (66.6%) of the RT alone group and 14 patient (93.3%) of the chemoradiation group. There was no statistical difference in CR rate between the two groups. The overall survival rates at 5 years were 23.4% in the radiation alone group. 23.5% in the chemoradiation group. Disease-free survival rates at 3 year were 44.5% in the radiation alone group. 40% in the chemoradiation group. There was no statistical differences in overall survival rates and disease free survival rates between the two groups.Local recurrences occurred in 71.5% of the radiation alone group. 72.7% of the chemoradiation group and distant metastasis occurred in 14.4% of radiation alone group. 9.1% of the chemoradiation group. The frequencies of complications were comparable in both groups except hematologic toxicity.
CONCLUSION
Total response rates in the combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was relatively higher than radiotherapy alone. But our result failed to show any survival benefit of the combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The accrual of large number of patients and long term follow-up may be necessary to confirm the present result of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy.