title: Larynx preservation with primary non-surgical treatment for loco-regionally advanced larynx cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this paper was to review the results of primary non-surgical treatment with the aim of larynx preservation for loco-regionally advanced larynx cancer (LALC).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with LALC presenting between January 2002 and December 2006 who were selected for primary non-surgical treatment were included in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 60 patients, 48% with stage III and 52% with stage IV disease. The median follow-up of living patients was 41 months. Larynx preservation with local disease control was achieved in 83% and 77% of patients at 3 and 5 years, respectively. Failure-free survival at 3 and 5 years was 66% and 59%, respectively, and overall survival was 67% and 45%, respectively. All patients with larynx preservation had a functional voice. Two patients became feeding tube dependant. Thirty-nine percent of all deaths were unrelated to LALC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary non-surgical treatment achieves high rates of larynx preservation with a low rate of severe complications but overall survival remains disappointing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. June Corry@petermac.org
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rischin
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: Ieta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: D'Costa
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vallance
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleid
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sizeland
authors.forename: Lester J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin