No abstract

Purpose: To present a retrospective analysis of the efficacy, toxicity, and quality of life (QoL) of patients treated with OARExtreme-sparing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in previously-irradiated head and neck cancer.Materials/Methods: From 11/2012 to 7/2015, 60 patients with in-field recurrence of head and neck cancer underwent re-irradiation with SBRT. Retreatment sites included the aerodigestive tract (43%), lateral neck (22%), and skull base (35%). The median prior RT dose was 63.6 Gy with a median time from prior irradiation of 16.5 months. The median volume treated was 61.0 cc. Patients were treated with 40 Gy in the definitive setting or 35 Gy in the post-operative setting in five fractions. Dose constraints to the OARExtreme were calculated with a BED calculator using an alpha/beta ratio of 3 to reduce the risk of late toxicities. QoL data was collected from patients at the time of consultation and at subsequent follow up appointments using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and Symptom Inventory (MDASI).Results: The 1- and 2- year rates of local, regional, and distant control and overall survival were 79/79, 74/70, 74/71, and 59/45%, respectively. Late grade 3 toxicities were seen in 3% in the group treated to the aerodigestive tract and 1% in the group treated to the skull base. No grade 4 or 5 toxicities were observed. Patients with skull base re-irradiation maintained a stable QoL score after radiation treatment, while patients treated to the aerodigestive tract demonstrated a slight impairment associated with worsening dysphagia, compared to their pretreatment baseline. All groups experienced an increase in xerostomia.Conclusions: OARExtreme-sparing SBRT is able to achieve excellent tumor coverage while protecting the organs at highest risk of re-irradiation-related complications. The potential for lower toxicities and maintained QoL with this treatment makes it a promising option for salvage of recurrent head and neck cancer.SummaryLocal control and overall survival rates for recurrent head and neck cancer remain poor, despite the use of local therapy. In addition, re-irradiation with conventional radiation therapy confers a high rate of grade 3 and higher late toxicities. SBRT appears to improve the therapeutic ratio in this patient population, and treatment planning with a focus on sparing OARExtreme may further decrease the rates of morbidity in these patients.

Background and purpose Patients with locally advanced oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma have suboptimal outcomes with standard chemoradiation. Here, we evaluated toxicity and oncologic outcomes of dose escalation using radiosurgical boost for patients with unfavorable oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and methods Between 2010–2017, Thirty four patients with intermediate- or high-risk oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled onto this prospective phase I trial. Each patient received concurrent cisplatin and fractionated radiotherapy totaling 60 Gy or 66 Gy followed by radiosurgery boost to areas of residual gross tumor: single fraction of 8 Gy or 10 Gy, or two fractions of 5 Gy each. Primary endpoint was treatment toxicity. Secondary endpoints were local, regional, and distant disease control. Results Eleven, sixteen and seven patients received radiosurgery boost with 8 Gy in 1 fraction, 10 Gy in 1 fraction, and 10 Gy in 2 fractions respectively. Acute toxicities include 4 patients with tumor necrosis causing grade 3 dysphagia, of which 3 developed grade 4 pharyngeal hemorrhage requiring surgical intervention. At 24 months after treatment, 7%, 9%, and 15% had grade 2 dysgeusia, xerostomia, and dysphagia, respectively, and two patients remained feeding tube dependent. No grade 5 toxicities occurred secondary to treatment. Local, regional, and distant control at a median follow up of 4.2 years were 85.3%, 85.3% and 88.2%, respectively. Five patients died resulting in overall survival of 85.3%. Conclusions This study is the first to report the use of radiosurgery boost dose escalation in patients with unfavorable oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma. Longer follow-up, larger cohorts, and further refinement of boost methodology are needed prior to implementation in routine clinical practice. Trial Registration: Northwell Health Protocol #09-309A (NCT02703493) (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02703493)

No abstract