Salivary Gland Tumors Treated With Adjuvant Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy With or Without Concurrent Chemotherapy

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck – An update

“…In a series of SGCs (43% AdCC), Schoenfeld et al [104] explored the use of carboplatin or paclitaxel as a radiosensitizer, and trastuzumab in HER2/Neu-positive tumors.…”

An epidemiological evaluation of salivary gland cancer in the Netherlands (1989–2010)

“…More recent literature demonstrates that chemo-radiotherapy as part of the treatment leads to better survival [43,44]. Pederson et al showed better 5-year locoregional progression free survival (96% vs. 86%) for adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy compared to surgery with radiotherapy for loco-regionally advanced and high-risk salivary gland cancer in a series of 24 consecutive patients [43].…”

“…Pederson et al showed better 5-year locoregional progression free survival (96% vs. 86%) for adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy compared to surgery with radiotherapy for loco-regionally advanced and high-risk salivary gland cancer in a series of 24 consecutive patients [43]. Another study found a 92% 3-year overall loco-regional control rate in the post surgery chemo-radiotherapy group, even though more high-risk patients (high-risk included: T3-T4 disease, nodal positivity and positive resection margins) were included in the chemo-radiotherapy group [44]. In our cohort, only 22 patients were treated by chemoradiotherapy for advanced disease.…”

Radiotherapy for nonadenoid cystic carcinomas of major salivary glands

“…Patients who received chemotherapy in our study had increased cancer-specific survival, freedom from recurrence, and a trend towards increased overall survival. Several chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to demonstrate activity against salivary gland malignancies, including cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, herceptin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, and vinorelbine, [22] but the most efficacious regimen is difficult to determine given the heterogeneity of histologies and rarity of these tumors. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) is currently conducting a randomized phase II study, evaluating the efficacy of adding weekly cisplatin chemotherapy to postoperative radiotherapy in tumors with high grade histologies including intermediate to high grade adenocarcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, high grade adenoid cystic and acinic cell carcinoma with high risk features such as T3-4 tumors, close or involved surgical margin or nodal involvement.…”