Safety and efficacy of hypofractionated stereotactic body reirradiation in head and neck cancer: Long-term follow-up of a large series.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report long-term outcomes for a large cohort of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who underwent stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) reirradiation. METHODS: From 2002 to 2011, 85 patients with previously irradiated HNSCC were treated with SBRT to 94 lesions. Some underwent surgery (29%), and many were treated with induction, concurrent, and/or adjuvant chemotherapy or biologic therapy (70%). RESULTS: Reirradiation occurred at a median interval from initial radiotherapy (RT) of 32 months. Median follow-up for survivors was 17.3 months. Two-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival (OS) and locoregional control for patients and lesions treated with curative intent were 24% and 28%, respectively. Interval from initial RT to SBRT of 2 years or more was associated with improved OS (p = .019). Five patients had grade 3 or higher late toxicity (5.9%). CONCLUSION: SBRT reirradiation results in limited toxicity. Further research is needed to refine optimal roles for SBRT and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) reirradiation.