Biweekly escalated, accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concomitant single-dose mitomycin C results in a high rate of local control in advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a dose-escalated, accelerated, and hyperfractionated radiotherapy schedule with a concomitant single dose of mitomycin C in the treatment of patients with advanced laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. Twenty-one previously untreated patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma (stage III, n = 6; stage IV, n = 15) were treated with a biweekly dose-escalated, accelerated, and hyperfractionated schedule up to a total dose of 74.4 Gy in 54 fractions over 5 weeks. A single dose of intravenous mitomycin C 10 mg/m2 was given on day 30. The median follow-up after treatment of surviving patients is 48 months (range, 28 to 61 months). All patients showed complete tumor control at the primary site when evaluated 2 months after chemoirradiation by laryngomicroscopy or hypopharyngoscopy and radiologic imaging (CT, MRI). Two laryngectomies were carried out after given therapy: 1 for residual cancer and 1 for suspected residual cancer. After a median follow-up of 43 months (range, 28 to 61 months), a local control rate of 70% and disease-free survival (DFS) rate of 60% were achieved in the laryngeal cancer patients; in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, the corresponding figures were 64% (82% after salvage surgery) and 36%. The results are promising and warrant comparison with other chemoradiotherapy regimens.
Saarilahti
Kauko
K
Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. kauko.saarilahti@hus.fi
Kajanti
Mikael
M
Atula
Timo
T
Mäkitie
Antti
A
Aaltonen
Leena-Maija
LM
Kouri
Mauri
M
Mäntylä
Matti
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin