title: Examination of laryngoesophageal dysfunction-free survival as an endpoint in nonsurgical treatment of squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and hypopharynx.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A recently published consensus guideline suggested a new endpoint for clinical trials involving cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx: laryngoesophageal dysfunction-free survival (LEDFS). The authors of this report examined LEDFS in the context of definitive radiotherapy alone (RT) or with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a stage III to IVB squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx or hypopharynx who received definitive radiotherapy were included. Consensus guidelines also suggested analysis of the following: tumor classification, lymph node status, pretreatment tracheotomy, pretreatment swallowing dysfunction, and subsite. LEDFS was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-five patients (73.9%) received CRT, and 30 patients (26.1%) received RT. For the entire cohort, the 3-year LEDFS rate was 28.9%. CRT was associated with an improved LEDFS at 3 years (32.2% vs 20%; P = .02). Pretreatment dysphagia (P = .06) and N2 or N3 lymph node status (P = .09) demonstrated a trend toward poorer LEDFS, but patients who had T4 tumors had an LEDFS similar to that of patients who had T2 and T3 tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LEDFS was superior in patients who received CRT compared with patients who received RT alone. T4 status was not associated with a worse LEDFS.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. jjcaudell@gmail.com
authors: Jimmy J
authors: JJ
authors: Caudell
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Carroll
authors: Sharon A
authors: SA
authors: Spencer
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Bonner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate