Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy of Locally Advanced Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • The Groupe d’Oncologie Radiotherapie Tete et Cou trial evaluated the concomitant approach in patients with oropharynx cancer only
  • A total of 226 patients were randomly assigned to either:
    • Radiation therapy alone (70 Gy) or
    • Radiation therapy (70 Gy) with concurrent carboplatin and infusion 5-FU
  • Significant benefits in 5-year overall survival (22% versus 16%, p = .05) and locoregional control (48% versus 25%, p = .002) were noted in the combined treatment arm
  • Complete responses were observed in a significant number of patients:
    • Thus avoiding the sequelae and short-term morbidity of surgical resection
  • Other Phase II trials also support the feasibility of administering other chemotherapy regimens concurrently with radiation therapy for patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer, including but not limited to:
    • Cisplatin plus paclitaxel
    • Cisplatin plus infusional 5-FU
    • 5-FU plus hydroxyurea
    • Carboplatin plus paclitaxel
    • Paclitaxel, 5-FU, and hydroxyurea

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