Role of definitive radiation therapy for larynx preservation in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and radiation therapy (RT) have been advocated as a standard treatment for laryngeal preservation in patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer. However, it is still being debated whether adding neoadjuvant CT to conventional RT makes an effective contribution to laryngeal preservation. The current study was designed to resolve this controversy.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
The Severance Hospital, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.


METHODS
Eighty patients (stages III, IV) with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were divided into two groups according to treatment modalities, which consisted of RT alone (N = 40, Group 1) and neoadjuvant CT plus RT (N = 40, Group 2). Comparative analysis was undertaken to investigate the differences in the organ preservation rate and treatment results between the two groups.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the response rate and patterns of treatment failure between the two groups. The 5-year survival rate was similar between Group 1 (24%) and Group 2 (31%) (p = .1556). In addition, the larynx was almost equally preserved in Group 1 (62%) versus Group 2 (63%).


CONCLUSIONS
Radiation therapy without neoadjuvant CT seems to be a valid alternative treatment for the purpose of laryngeal preservation in locally advanced laryngeal cancer.
Keum
K C
KC
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
G E
GE
Suh
C O
CO
Lee
J Y
JY
Roh
J K
JK
Kim
K M
KM
Kim
Y H
YH
Hong
W P
WP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome