A Multi-institutional Comparison of SBRT and IMRT for Definitive Reirradiation of Recurrent or Second Primary Head and Neck Cancer

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2018

Publication Title

International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics

Abstract

PURPOSE: Two modern methods of reirradiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), are established for patients with recurrent or second primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (rSCCHN). We performed a retrospective multi-institutional analysis to compare methods.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from patients with unresectable rSCCHN previously irradiated to ≥40 Gy who underwent reirradiation with IMRT or SBRT were collected from 8 institutions. First, the prognostic value of our IMRT-based recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) separating those patients with unresectable tumors with an intertreatment interval >2 years or those with ≤2 years and without feeding tube or tracheostomy dependence (class II) from other patients with unresected tumors (class III) was investigated among SBRT patients. Overall survival (OS) and locoregional failure were then compared between IMRT and SBRT by use of 2 methods to control for baseline differences: Cox regression weighted by the inverse probability of treatment and subset analysis by RPA classification.

RESULTS: The study included 414 patients with unresectable rSCCHN: 217 with IMRT and 197 with SBRT. The unadjusted 2-year OS rate was 35.4% for IMRT and 16.3% for SBRT (P

CONCLUSIONS: Reirradiation both with SBRT and with IMRT appear relatively safe with favorable toxicity compared with historical studies. Outcomes vary by RPA class, which informs clinical trial design. Survival is poor in class III patients, and alternative strategies are needed.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasms, Second Primary; Radiosurgery; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; Re-Irradiation; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult

PubMed ID

28899556

Volume

100

Issue

3

First Page

595

Last Page

605

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