A prospective trial of accelerated radiotherapy in the postoperative treatment of high-risk squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of accelerated fractionation in the postoperative setting in high risk squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Methods and materials: Thirty-two patients with high risk pathologic features (e.g., extracapsular extension, positive margins, > or = 4 nodes positive, perineural invasion) were enrolled in an accelerated fractionation schedule, using a modification of the M.D. Anderson concomitant boost technique delivering 63 Gy in 5.3 weeks at 1.8 Gy per fraction.

Results: Thirty patients (94%) completed treatment per protocol. Confluent mucositis was seen in 22 (69%) and five patients (22%) required 2 to 4 months for complete healing. Only five patients (16%) lost more than 10% of body weight. At a median follow-up of 32 months (range 22-42 months), the crude infield failure rate is 8/32 (25%). Infield recurrence was significantly associated with the interval from surgery to commencement of radiotherapy; 0/10 (0%) patients beginning radiotherapy within 4 weeks of surgery had infield failures compared to 8/22 (36%) for patients beginning radiotherapy more than 4 weeks after surgery (p = 0.035).

Conclusion: While acute side effects appear to be increased compared to conventional radiotherapy, we conclude that postoperative accelerated radiotherapy is feasible and has acceptable toxicity in this population. These results support the concept of rapid tumor repopulation after resection. A randomized multi-institutional trial is currently underway to compare conventional and accelerated fractionation in the postoperative setting.