title: Neutron therapy for head and neck cancer: I. A final report of the MDAH-TAMVEC pilot studies.
abstract: Between October 1972 and December 1979, 142 patients with advanced head and neck cancer were treated in neutron-therapy pilot studies. Forty-nine patients were treated with neutron irradiation twice weekly, 17 with neutron irradiation four times per week, 31 with mixed-schedule irradiation (two neutron and three photon fractions per week), and 45 with conventional treatment (surgery, photon irradiation, or combined surgery and photon irradiation). The tumor was locally controlled in 47% of patients treated with irradiation twice weekly, in 29% of those treated with neutron irradiation four times per week, in 45% of those treated with mixed-schedule irradiation, and in 44% of those treated with conventional modalities. The complication rates were 18%, 6%, 0%, and 20%, respectively. On the basis of this experience, a prospective randomized trial comparing mixed-schedule and photon irradiation for advanced head and neck cancer was initiated in January, 1977.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005214:Fast Neutrons; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009502:Neutrons; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors