376P Impact of pre-radiotherapy haemoglobin levels on treatment breaks in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma getting concurrent chemoradiation

Abstract

Background Chemoradiation is standard of care for treating locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Unplanned interruption during treatment has the chance of inducing tumour repopulation. Treatment breaks occur due to various reasons like treatment related side effects, poor nutrition and compliance. We prospectively analysed the role pre-RT haemoglobin and its influence on treatment breaks. Methods 120 HNSCC (T3-T4a, N1-N2c) patients undergoing chemoradiation were prospectivelyevaluatedforinfluenceofPre-RThaemoglobinonmucositis.Sub-sites included were oral cavity, ororphaynyx, hypopharnyx & laynyx. All patients received weekly inj.cisplatin 40 mg/m2) along with radiation to a total dose of 66Gy to PTV. All patients were evaluated weekly by clinical examination for grade of dermatitis, dysphagia, mucositis and hemogram. Results Our population was characterized by a mean age of 55±10.7 years (range: 27-69), 85 were males and 35 females with a performance status of ECOG1-2. All patients were in locally advanced disease stage III-IV. The mean pre-RT haemoglobin was calculated (using ROC) as 10.3 g/dl. Among 120 patients 58 had treatment breaks ≥ five days (of which 6 were >10.3g/dl and 52 were < = 10.3g/dl; 62 patients had treatment breaks ≤ five (of which 60 were >10.3g/dl and only 2 were < = 10.3g/dl. (p value < 0.005) Conclusions Lower pre-RT haemoglobin level of < = 10.3g/dl is statistically significantly associated with higher treatment breaks of ≥ five days. Legal entity responsible for the study N/A Funding N/A Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.