Comparative Analysis of Treatment Result in Advanced Hypopharyngeal Cancer: Chemoradiotherapy Alone or Surgery Followed by Chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CCRT) is an alternative, organ preserving way to perform surgery in patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the results of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma according to different treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with advanced stage as stage III, IVA, IVB of hypopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated by the head and neck team of the cancer center at Mackay Memorial Hospital between January 2002 and June 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Sixteen patients were treated with concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone (CCRT group), and 12 patients were treated with surgery and postoperative concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (OP+CCRT group). Median follow-up period was 21 months. Results: The overall 2-year survival rates were 43.8% for the CCRT group and 49.4% for the OP+CCRT group. The 2-year disease-free survival rates were 37.5% for the CCRT group and 50.0% for the OP+CCRT group. No significant differences were found in overall and disease-free survival rates between the CCRT and OP+CCRT groups (p=.82, p=.57). Conclusions: Concomitant chemoradiotherapy is an effective strategy to achieve organ preservation without compromising the survival of patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma. However, this is only a 2-year result; long-term follow-up is needed.