title: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy as primary treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past decade, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has gained widespread use in the treatment of head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated with primary IMRT with or without chemotherapy over a 5-year period were reviewed. Outcomes and morbidity were analyzed and compared with previously published data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 170 patients were included in the analysis. The 3-year local control, locoregional control, disease-free survival, and overall survival rates were 92%, 91%, 80%, and 87%, respectively. Feeding tubes were present in 55% of patients during treatment, but remained in only 1% 2 years following treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that IMRT yields excellent treatment outcomes for oropharyngeal carcinoma. Although acute toxicity remains a problem, late toxicity rates are low and long-term feeding tube dependence is rare compared with conventional radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Roberto D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sabater
authors.forename: Hinda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boutrid
authors.forename: Jimmy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Caudell
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tapan A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Padhya
authors.forename: Judith C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.forename: Tawee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanvetyanon
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deconti
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kish
authors.forename: Thomas V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: disease control; head and neck cancer; intensity-modulated radiation therapy; oropharyngeal carcinoma; treatment toxicity