Preliminary Results of the GORTEC 96-01 Randomized Trial, Comparing Very Accelerated Radiotherapy Versus Concomitant Radio-Chemotherapy for Locally Inoperable HNSCC

English

William Levin, MD
University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center
Ultima Vez Modificado: 5 de noviembre del 2001

Presenter: J. Bourhis
Presenter's Affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
Type of Session: Plenary

Background

There is some clinical evidence that radiation therapy administered over a shorter period of time offers better tumor control by decreasing the ability of cancer cells to repair themselves from radiation-induced damage.

Combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimens are also used in the treatment of advanced cancers.

It is unclear as to if one of these approaches is superior.

Materials and Methods

Patients with advanced stage squamous cell cancer of the head and neck were randomized to receive either modified fractionated radiotherapy (RT) or concomitant radio-chemotherapy (RT-CT)

109 patients were randomized between very accelerated RT (62-64 Gy/3weeks) and moderately accelerated RT (62-64 Gy/5 weeks) + CDDP 100 mg/m2 Days 1, 16 and 32 and 5FU 1g/m2/day, days 1 to 5 and 31 to 35.

In the RT-CT arm, 2 additional cycles of CDDP-5FU were given whenever possible, 28 days and 56 days after the local treatment.

90% of patients had T4 tumors or N3 nodal disease.

The majority of patients had oropharynx cancer.

Results

There was a 96% incidence of grade 3/4 mucositis in the Accelerated Group, versus 81% in the RT-CT Group.

For both groups, there was only about 30% locaregional control.

There was no significant difference between groups in terms of survival or incidence of distant metastases.

Author's Conclusions

Accelerated radiotherapy is no better than chemoirradiation in terms of locoregional control, distant metastases, or overall survival.

Clinical/Scientific Implications

Local control of advanced head and neck cancers is necassary before improvements in survival can be achieved.

Accordingly, the development of other chemotherapeutic and biologic therapies are needed.

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Cancer Types
Bone Cancer
Brain Tumors
Breast Cancer
Carcinoid Tumors
Endocrine System Cancers
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Gynecologic Cancers
Head and Neck Cancers
Leukemia
Lung Cancers
Lymphomas
Myelomas
Pediatric Cancers
Penile Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Sarcomas
Skin Cancers
Testicular Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Urinary Tract Cancers
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