title: Prognostic Factors After Definitive Radio(Chemo)Therapy of Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify predictors of locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS) after definitive radio(chemo)therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and seventy-five patients were evaluated; 261 patients received radiochemotherapy with 30-40 mg/m(2) of cisplatin weekly, three courses of cisplatin 100 mg/m(2), two courses of cisplatin 5x20 mg/m(2) or two courses of cisplatin 5×20 mg/m(2)plus 5-fluorouracil. Ten characteristics were analyzed: Pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin, T-/N-category, Karnofsky performance-score (KPS), gender, age, chemotherapy type, tumor site, grading and radiation dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On multivariate analyses, hemoglobin 12-14 g/dl (p=0.040), lower T-category (p=0.010), lower N-category (p=0.042) and female gender (p=0.006) were predictive of LRC. Hemoglobin >12 g/dl (p=0.020), lower N-category (p<0.001), KPS ≥80 (p<0.001), female gender (p=0.024) and cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) or 5×20 mg/m(2) (p<0.001) were predictors of improved OS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predictors of LRC and OS were identified that can improve personalization of treatment. Since chemotherapy type was associated with OS, studies comparing different regimens are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Medical Practice for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Primoz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strojan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bajrovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany rades.dirk@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rades
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: Locally advanced SCCHN; definitive radio(chemo) therapy; locoregional control; overall survival; prognostic factors