Although substantial (qol) quality of life problems may occur due to acute and delayed complications of therapy for advanced head & neck squamous cancer, overall long term qol is good/acceptable

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Background: Patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCCA) have traditionally been treated with aggressive regimens of concurrent chemo-radiation, or more recently, induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemo-radiation, to achieve high rates of tumor control at our institution. Objectives: We initiated a QOL study in patients who were free of tumor and available for long term follow up with a focus on acute & delayed complications and long term QOL observation. Methods: The study included 75 patients with stage III-IV HNSCCA treated with either concurrent chemo-radiation or induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemo-radiation at our institution. All patients had completed therapy and were considered free of disease at the time of survey. We were unable to complete the survey in 43 pts largely due to patient access problems or unavailability at time of survey. In the remaining 32 patients, the University of Washington QOL survey could be completed over the telephone. Two pts were excluded due to recent demonstration of recurrence. Additional information regarding acute toxicity during treatment was also recorded. Results: There were 11 women and 19 men with a median duration of follow up of 36 months (range 3–120 months) after completion of treatment. Early complications were associated with gastrostomy tube placement (5 leaks & 6 infections,12/31 patients, 38.7%) and portacath placements (2 deep vein thrombosis requiring port removal and anticoagulation, 6.45%). No patients in this group were still dependent on their gastrostomy tube for nutrition at the time of follow up. Of note, 9% of patients were still smoking and drinking on a regular basis. The composite scores for 9 QOL domains ranged from 370–875, with a median score of 615/900. Major problem issues regarding QOL were associated saliva 11/31 (35.5%), swallowing 10/31 (32.2%), followed by mood 6/31 (19.3%), pain 5/31 (16.12%), chewing 4/31 (12.9%), local pain 5/31 (16.12%) and shoulder problems 5/31 (16.12%). Conclusion: Initial QOL problems in advanced HNSCCA appear related to surgical/chemo therapy related problems, whereas late QOL issues appear primarily related to radiation. Most patients however had a good or acceptable quality of life after treatment for advanced HNSCCA.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Surgical resection is necessary to maximize tumor control in function-preserving, aggressive chemoradiation protocols for advanced squamous cancer of the head and neck (stage III and IV)

BACKGROUND

The role of surgery in aggressive chemoradiation protocols for advanced head and neck cancer has been questioned because of the quoted high clinical response rates in many series.

METHODS

The role of surgical resection was examined in an aggressive neoadjuvant protocol of weekly paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiation for stage III and IV with completion of radiation to 72 Gy if biopsy at the primary site was negative after administration of 45 Gy. Of 43 patients enrolled, 38 completed the protocol. The clinical response was 100% (including 18 complete and 20 partial responses).

RESULTS

The complete pathologic response (negative primary site biopsy at 45 Gy) was 25 of 38 (66%). Of patients who presented with N1 to N3 nodes, neck dissection revealed residual nodal metastases in 22%. Surgical resection of the primary site was required in 13 patients, including 5 with larynx cancer and 2 with base of tongue cancers. Four patients had resection with reconstruction for advanced mandible floor of mouth cancer, and one had resection of nasal-maxillary cancer. Functional resection was performed in 9 of 12 patients. The median progression free and overall survival was 64% and 68%, respectively, at median follow-up of 50 months. Nine patients developed recurrence (three local and six distant). There were no failures in the neck. Salvage surgery was performed in one patient with local and one with distant disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection is an essential component of aggressive chemoradiation protocols to ensure tumor control at the primary site and in the neck.

Paclitaxel and concurrent radiation for gastric cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the activity and toxicity of paclitaxel and concurrent radiation for gastric cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Twenty-seven patients were studied. Twenty-five had proximal gastric cancers, two had distal cancers. Eight had esophageal extension, 6 had celiac adenopathy, and 7 had retroperitoneal adenopathy. Patients received paclitaxel, 50 mg/m(2) by 3-hour intravenous (IV) infusion, weekly, on days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Radiation was administered concurrently to a total dose of 45.0 Gy, in 1.80 Gy fractions, for 25 treatments. Patients who were medically or surgically inoperable received a sixth week of paclitaxel with a radiation boost to 50.4 Gy.

RESULTS

Esophagitis and gastritis were the most important toxicities, Grade 3 in four patients (15%), and Grade 4 in three patients (11%). Five patients (19%) had Grade 3 nausea. The overall response rate was 56%, including three patients (11%) with a complete response. The 2-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 29% and 31%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Concurrent paclitaxel and radiation demonstrates substantial local-regional activity in gastric cancer. Future investigations combining paclitaxel and radiation with other local-regional and systemic treatments are warranted.

Chemoradiotherapy for advanced inoperable head and neck cancer: A phase II study

The beneficial effects of chemotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck cancer remain controversial in terms of survival, but have shown some promise in improving locoregional control and quality of life. In an effort to improve locoregional control and survival, a prospective phase II study was initiated using paclitaxel and carboplatin with concurrent conventional fractionated external-beam radiotherapy. Paclitaxel and carboplatin have both shown excellent radiosensitization through two discrete mechanisms, cell blockage in G2/M phase and inhibition of DNA repair, respectively. Patients were stratified as either operable or inoperable. This report pertains to the inoperable patient group, who received eight cycles of weekly paclitaxel (60 mg/m2), carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve of 1) with conventional radiotherapy (72 Gy). Chemoradiotherapy was followed by neck dissection for those patients who presented with clinically palpable lymph nodes. Thirty-three patients were enrolled in this group (23 men and 10 women with a median age of 56 years). Eleven patients (33%) had stage III disease; 22 (67%), stage IV disease. The median follow-up period was 14 months. Clinical complete response occurred in 20 patients (60%) and partial response occurred in 10 (30%), for an overall response rate of 90%. Following completion of therapy, 18 patients have undergone biopsy at the primary tumor site and 17 were negative. Eight of the 16 patients with clinically palpable neck nodes at presentation underwent neck dissection; five (63%) had negative nodes. Mucositis was the most common toxicity. Grade 3 or 4 mucositis occurred in 30 of the 33 (90%) patients. Other grade 3 or 4 toxicities included skin (22%), candidiasis (19%), neutropenia (9%), and dehydration (6%). One patient with laryngeal carcinoma who had pathologic complete response developed cartilage necrosis and is undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Survival data are early but encouraging. Concurrent paclitaxel, carboplatin, and external-beam radiotherapy yielded excellent clinical and pathologic responses. Mucositis remains the most common and significant morbidity. The study will continue for necessary accrual.

Concurrent paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancers: a phase II study--preliminary results

Radiotherapy or surgery alone for advanced head and neck cancer generally yields poor results. Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) and carboplatin have both shown excellent radiosensitization through two discrete mechanisms, namely, blocking the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and inhibiting DNA repair. In an effort to improve locoregional control and survival, a prospective phase II study was initiated using paclitaxel 60 mg/ml and carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve of 1), each given as a single dose weekly with concurrent conventional fractionated external beam radiotherapy. Patients were stratified into two groups: operable and inoperable/unresectable. The operable and inoperable groups received 5 weeks (45 Gy) and 8 weeks (72 Gy) of chemoradiotherapy, respectively. Patients in the operable group were evaluated with repeat biopsies from the primary site after 5 weeks. Those with a positive biopsy underwent surgery; those with a negative biopsy received 3 additional weeks of chemoradiotherapy. Thirty-four patients were entered in the operable group (28 men and six women; 40 to 71 years of age; 12 stage III and 22 stage IV). Of 26 evaluable patients, 19 (73%) had a complete clinical response (95% confidence interval [CI], 52% to 88%) and six (23%) had a partial response (95% CI, 9% to 44%), for a total clinical response rate of 96% (95% CI, 80% to 100%). A pathologic complete response at the primary site (two had an unknown primary site) occurred in 17 of 24 (71%) patients (95% CI, 49% to 87%). Of 20 patients with N1-3 nodes who underwent neck dissection, 17 (85%) had pathologically negative lymph nodes. Seven patients with residual tumor at the primary site were resected (oral cavity, three; maxilla, one; base of tongue, one; and larynx, two). Grades 3 and 4 mucositis were seen in 19 (73%) patients; mucositis was the most common and significant morbidity. Accrual for the inoperable group continues. Concomitant paclitaxel, carboplatin, and external beam radiotherapy yielded excellent clinical responses, but produced significant grade 3/4 toxicity. In the operable group, the majority of responders had a complete pathologic response. These preliminary findings will be assessed in terms of response duration, organ preservation, and long-term survival.

Paclitaxel and concurrent radiation for locally advanced pancreatic and gastric cancer: a phase I study

PURPOSE

To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicities, and potential antitumor activity of weekly paclitaxel with concurrent radiation (RT) for locally advanced pancreatic and gastric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-four patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or stomach were studied. The initial dose of paclitaxel was 30 mg/m2 by 3-hour intravenous (I.V.) infusion repeated every week for 6 weeks with 50 Gy RT. Doses were escalated at 10-mg/m2 increments in successive cohorts of three new patients until dose-limiting toxicity was observed.

RESULTS

The dose-limiting toxicities at 60 mg/m2/wk were abdominal pain within the RT field, nausea, and anorexia. Of 23 patients with assessable disease, 11 (seven with gastric, four with pancreatic cancer) had objective responses for an overall response rate of 48%.

CONCLUSION

Concurrent paclitaxel with upper abdominal RT is well tolerated at dosages that have substantial activity. A phase II trial of neoadjuvant paclitaxel and RT at the MTD of 50 mg/m2/wk is underway.

The role of radiation therapy in the management of bone metastases

Bone metastases are a common problem in patients with cancer and frequently result in significant pain and functional disability. An understanding of the pathogenesis of metastatic bone involvement and appropriate diagnostic evaluation often leads to earlier institution of palliative therapy. A substantial percentage of patients with bone metastases may benefit from palliative radiotherapy. Often, this treatment leads to rapid symptomatic improvement with minimal side effects.

The short-term effect of low-dose radiation on intracranial germinoma. A pathologic study

A correlative pathologic and imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) study is reported of a pineal germinoma in a 35-year-old man who died unexpectedly of massive pulmonary embolism on the 8th day during the course of radiation therapy after receiving a total dose of only 1600 cGy. A histologic study of the entire lesion in serial sections revealed no viable tumor cells. The tumor bed was composed of stromal elements with a variable degree of proliferation. The lymphocytic component of the tumor was unaffected by the radiation. This case provided a rare opportunity to show total eradication of tumor cells in a germinoma after a small dose of radiation and supports the notion, based on imaging observations, that histologically proven intracranial pure germinomas may be treated successfully with a much smaller dose of radiation than previously thought.