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Comparative Study
. 2009 May 23:1:13.
doi: 10.1186/1758-3284-1-13.

Comparison of single versus fractionated dose of stereotactic radiotherapy for salvaging local failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a matched-cohort analysis

Daniel T T Chua  1 , Shao-Xiong Wu, Victor Lee, Janice Tsang
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of single versus fractionated dose of stereotactic radiotherapy for salvaging local failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a matched-cohort analysis

Daniel T T Chua et al. Head Neck Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: Local failure is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Although surgery or brachytherapy may be feasible in selected cases, most patients with local failure require external beam re-irradiation. Stereotactic radiation using single or multiple fractions have been employed in re-irradiation of NPC, but the optimal fractionation scheme and dose are not clear.

Methods: Records of 125 NPC patients who received salvage stereotactic radiation were reviewed. A matched-pair design was used to select patients with similar prognostic factors who received stereotactic re-irradiation using single fraction (SRS) or multiple fractions (SRM). Eighty-six patients were selected with equal number in SRS and SRM groups. All patients were individually matched for failure type (persistent or recurrent), rT stage (rT1-2 or rT3-4), and tumor volume (< or = 5 cc, >5-10 cc, or >10 cc). Median dose was 12.5 Gy in single fraction by SRS, and 34 Gy in 2-6 fractions by SRM.

Results: Local control rate was better in SRM group although overall survival rates were similar. One- and 3-year local failure-free rates were 70% and 51% in SRS group compared with 91% and 83% in SRM group (p = 0.003). One- and 3-year overall survival rates were 98% and 66% in SRS group compared with 78% and 61% in SRM group (p = 0.31). The differences in local control were mainly observed in recurrent or rT2-4 disease. Incidence of severe late complications was 33% in SRS group vs. 21% in SRM group, including brain necrosis (16% vs. 12%) and hemorrhage (5% vs. 2%).

Conclusion: Our study showed that SRM was superior to SRS in salvaging local failures of NPC, especially in the treatment of recurrent and rT2-4 disease. In patient with local failure of NPC suitable for stereotactic re-irradiation, use of fractionated treatment is preferred.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Isodose curve showing coverage of the tumor in right side of nasopharynx in a patient treated by single fraction of stereotactic radiotherapy (target: green arrow; 80% isodose line: red arrow).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Isodose curve showing coverage of the tumor in right side of nasopharynx in a patient treated by multiple fractions of stereotactic radiotherapy (target: green arrow; 90% isodose line: red arrow).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Local control curves. comparison of local failure-free probabilities in patients with local failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by stereotactic radiotherapy using single or multiple fractions
Figure 4
Figure 4
Survival curves: comparison of overall survival probabilities in patients with local failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by stereotactic radiotherapy using single or multiple fractions.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Persistent disease: comparison of local failure-free probabilities in subgroup of patients with persistent disease.
Figure 6
Figure 6
rT1 tumor: comparison of local failure-free probabilities in subgroup of patients with disease confined to nasopharynx.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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