Accelerated radiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer - early results

The aim of the research was to evaluate the immediate efficacy and early toxicity of radiation therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of the III-IVB stages. We used accelerated radiotherapy as independent form or in combination with chemotherapy. The material is presented by the results of treatment of 69 patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck of the III-IVB stages. Mucositis grade 3-4 occurred in 7 (43.8%) patients in radiotherapy alone group, 9 (32.2%) patients in the induction chemotherapy group, 8 (32.0%) patients in the group of simultaneous chemoradiation treatment. Continuous treatment was conducted in 46 (66.6%) patients. Treatment with forced interruption was conducted in 23 (33.4%) patients. All patients (100%) who received a course of radiotherapy in an independent version transferred it without interruption. In the group with induction chemotherapy, there were 42.8%, and simultaneous - 20.8%. An objective tumor response to radiotherapy was registered in 63 (91.3%) patients. Significantly more often objective response was obtained in groups with induction and simultaneous chemotherapy. Differences were found in favor of adding to the treatment regimen locally advanced forms of head and neck cancer of chemotherapy in any of the variations (in comparison with radiotherapy alone) at the level of the statistical trend (p