Outcomes of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced major salivary gland carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential value of postoperative concurrent chemoradiation among patients with high-risk salivary gland carcinomas.


METHODS
Case control study based on retrospective medical record review.


METHODS
A tertiary care comprehensive cancer center.


METHODS
A total of 24 patients, 12 with major salivary gland carcinoma who were treated with postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy from 1998 to 2007 (chemoradiation group), and a control group of 12 patients treated with postoperative radiation alone.


METHODS
Overall survival, progression-free survival, toxic effects.


RESULTS
All but 1 patient had stage III or IV disease; close or positive surgical margins were identified in 20 patients (83%). The median radiation dose was 63 Gy. In the chemoradiation group, platinum-based regimens were used in all. Treatment was well tolerated, but toxic effects, predominantly hematologic, were increased in the chemoradiation group. To date, 8 patients have died; the median overall survival was 53 months. The overall survival in the chemoradiation group was significantly better than in the radiation-alone group: 3-year survival rates were 83% and 44%, respectively (P = .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Locally advanced or high-grade salivary gland carcinomas follow an aggressive clinical course. Based on our limited experience, postoperative chemoradiation with a platinum-based regimen seems to be effective in selected patients and warrants further investigation.
Tanvetyanon
Tawee
T
Head and Neck Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. tanvett@moffitt.org
Qin
Dahui
D
Padhya
Tapan
T
McCaffrey
Judith
J
Zhu
Weiwei
W
Boulware
David
D
DeConti
Ronald
R
Trotti
Andy
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis