Abstract
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without induction chemotherapy is widely practiced in inoperable stage III and IVA/B head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival and toxicity outcomes of induction chemotherapy combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone in inoperable stage III and IVA/B head and neck cancer patients. From June 2018 to July 2020, 86 patients participated in a quasi-experimental study. Patients were purposively assigned to one of the two arms (arm A or arm B). Arm A got induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemo- radiotherapy, while arm B got only concurrent chemoradiotherapy. According to our findings, the 2-year progression-free survival rate in arm A was 48.8% vs 37.2 % in arm B (p-value=0.042), and the 2-year overall survival rate in arm A was 65.1 % versus 60.5 % in arm B (p-value= 0.416). There were no statistically significant variations in treatment-related toxicities between the two groups (p-value > 0.05). In conclusion, inoperable stage III and IVA/B head and neck cancer patients who got induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy had a better progression-free survival rate than those who received concur- rent chemoradiotherapy alone. BSMMU J 2021; 14(4): 144-147
Highlights
There are several areas within the head and neck where cancer can develop, including the mouth and lips, pharynx, larynx, nasopharynx, nose, sinuses and salivary glands
From June 2018 to July 2020, a quasi-experimental study was performed on 86 patients with inoperable Stage III and IVA/B head and neck cancer (HNC) in the Department of Clinical Oncology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), and the BSMMU J 2021; 14(4): 143-146
Induction chemotherapy (ICT) was used with Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in Arm A, while CCRT was used alone in Arm B
Summary
There are several areas within the head and neck where cancer can develop, including the mouth and lips, pharynx, larynx, nasopharynx, nose, sinuses and salivary glands. Thyroid cancer, brain cancer, ocular malignancy, and esophageal cancer are not categorized as head and neck cancer (HNC). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and its variations are the most prevalent HNCs.[1]. In 2020, there were 9,31,931 new cases of HNC worldwide, with 4,67,125 fatalities.[2]. In Bangladesh, 32,337 new cases of HNC were diagnosed in 2020, with 18,145 deaths.[3]. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the recommended treatment for individuals with inoperable locally advanced HNC.[4]. Induction chemotherapy (ICT) is often utilized in clinical practice, its significance is still debated. In HNC, a number of trials compared the survival advantages of ICT plus CCRT to CCRT alone
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