[Current status of phase III study of combined treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer].
Concerning the combined treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer, in general, there are many discrepancies between a single institutional pilot study and a multi-institutional prospective randomized study. Some of the differences depend on the insufficient number of patients entered into the study, since the annual incidence of head and neck cancer is relatively low, and the treatment result varies from site to site as well as the stage of the disease. Several types of bias, including patient selection and positive publications, and factors related to the design and analysis of clinical trials result in additional differences. To solve these problems, we organized the Quality Assurance Research Group in Japan, funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for several years. Based on much effort, it was emphasized the need for increased manpower and equipment in radiation oncology, for a quality assurance program of radiotherapy and the preparation of a standard treatment modality using decision tree and surrogate survey.
Inoue
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Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Research Center, Osaka University Medical School.
Inoue
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Murayama
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D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000078329:Workforce