Feasibility and tolerance of sequential chemoradiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl)
; 22(1): 32-40, 2013 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22519981
ABSTRACT
This paper evaluates the feasibility and tolerance of sequential chemoradiotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and ascertains whether the use of induction chemotherapy compromises delivery of subsequent radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy. We also compared sequential chemoradiotherapy treatment adherence between the elderly and younger patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. One hundred and ninety-four patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who received induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil were included in this study. Treatment-related death rate from induction chemotherapy was 1.5%. One hundred and ninety-one patients (98.5%) proceeded to radical radiotherapy, with 90.1% also receiving planned concomitant chemotherapy. One hundred and seventy-eight patients (93.2%) completed radiotherapy with no prolongation of the treatment duration. There were no statistical differences in sequential chemoradiotherapy treatment adherence and tolerance between the elderly and younger patients apart from the proportion who required hospitalisation during radiotherapy. Induction chemotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma does not compromise delivery of definitive radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy. Elderly patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are able to tolerate aggressive treatments such as sequential chemoradiotherapy. Treatment 'deintensification' based solely on chronological age is not recommended.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
/
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
/
Chemoradiotherapy
/
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl)
Journal subject:
ENFERMAGEM
/
NEOPLASIAS
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Reino Unido