Comprehensive IMRT plus weekly cisplatin for advanced head and neck cancer: the University of Wisconsin experience.
BACKGROUND
We retrospectively examined the treatment efficacy and toxicity profile of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plus concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
A total of 57 patients with stage III or IV HNSCC were treated with IMRT and concurrent weekly cisplatin (dosed at 30 mg/m(2)) between November 2001 and May 2007. The median prescription dose to the gross tumor volume was 70 Gy (using 2.0-2.2 Gy daily fractions).


RESULTS
In-field tumor control at 2 years was 89.1%, locoregional control was 85.5%, and overall survival was 86.9%. The median radiation dose delivered was 70 Gy. The mean dose intensity of cisplatin administered was 25.7 mg/m(2)/week.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive head and neck IMRT to 70 Gy delivered with weekly cisplatin chemotherapy (30 mg/m(2)) is feasible and generally well tolerated.
Traynor
Anne M
AM
Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA. amt@medicine.wisc.edu
Richards
Gregory M
GM
Hartig
Gregory K
GK
Khuntia
Deepak
D
Cleary
James F
JF
Wiederholt
Peggy A
PA
Bentzen
Søren M
SM
Harari
Paul M
PM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin