Split-course hypofractionated radiotherapy for aged and frail patients with head and neck cancers. A retrospective study of 75 cases

Abstract

PurposeTo assess the efficacy and the tolerance of a split course hypofractionated (SCH) radiotherapy (RT) protocol in head and neck cancer (HNC) for eldery and/or unfit patients (pts). Patients and methodsPts with HNC treated by SCH-RT in two institutions were included retrospectively. The main SCH RT regimen was two courses of 30 grays (Gy)/10 fractions separated by 2–4 weeks, without any systemic therapy. ResultsBetween February 2012 and January 2019, 75 consecutive patients were analyzed. The median age was 80 years (range: 45.7–98.2) and 53 (70.7%) were men. Sixty-one (81.3%) pts had stage III/IV disease and 54 (72%) had at least two comorbidities. All of them were treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 10.6 months (range: 3.1–58.3). Local control at 12 and 24 months was 72.8% IC95%[62–85.5] and 51.7% IC95%[38.1–70.1] respectively. Progression free survival (PFS) at 12 and 24 months were 47.7% IC95%[37.4–60.8] and 41% IC95%[15–36.4] respectively, with a median of 11.5 months IC95%[8.9–17]. OS at 12 and 24 months were 60.4% IC95%[50–73.1] and 41% IC95%[30.6–54.9] respectively, with a median of 19.3 months IC95%[11.9–25.8]. Acute and late grade 3 or higher toxicities occurred for 6 (8%) and 3 (4%) pts. ConclusionThe present SCH-RT regimen seems effective, well-tolerated and could represent an alternative to palliative strategies for pts deemed unfit for standard exclusive RT.