Impact of Superselective Intra-Arterial and Systemic Chemoradiotherapy for Gingival Carcinoma; Analysis of Treatment Outcomes and Prognostic Factors

Abstract

Background: We compared outcomes and toxicity between radiation therapy (RT) with concurrent retrograde super-selective intra-arterial chemotherapy (IACRT) and RT with concurrent systemic chemoradiotherapy (SCRT), for gingival carcinoma (GC). Methods: We included 84 consecutive patients who were treated for GC ≥ stage III, from 2006 to 2018, in this retrospective analysis (IACRT group: n=66; SCRT group: n=18).Results: Median follow-up time was 24 (range: 1–124) months. The median prescribed dose was 60 (6–70.2) Gy (IACRT group: 60 Gy; SCRT group:69 Gy). At 3 years, the two groups significantly differed in overall survival (OS; IACRT: 78.75%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 66.00–87.62; SCRT: 50.37%, 95% CI: 27.58–73.0; P = 0.039), progression-free survival (PFS; IACRT: 75.64%, 95% CI: 62.69–85.17; SCRT: 41.96%, 95% CI: 17.65–70.90; P = 0.028) and local control (LC; IACRT: 77.17%, 95% CI: 64.23–86.41; SCRT: 41.96%, 95% CI: 17.65–70.90; P = 0.015). In univariate analysis, age ≥ 65, decreased performance status (PS) and SCRT were significantly associated with worse outcomes (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, age ≥ 65 years, clinical stage IV, and SCRT were significantly correlated with poor OS (P < 0.05). Patients with poorer PS had significantly worse PFS.Conclusions: This is the first report to compare outcomes from IACRT and SCRT among patients with GC. IACRT is an effective and organ-preserving treatment for GC.Trial registration: retrospectively registered