Abstract

To evaluate the rates of immediate locoregional response and acute toxicities associated with the reirradiation and oral capecitabine treatment of locoregionally recurring, unresectable squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Method: Forty patients met the study's inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to receive reirradiation for previously treated inoperable and/or irresectable tumours using conventional fractionation (2GY per fraction, 5 days a week, up to a total cumulative dose of 120GY, including the prior RT dose) and Capecitabine (500 mg once daily) during treatment. Result: The average time between the first and second radiation treatment sessions was 20 months. Our experiment showed an overall 90% response rate, with 20 patients showing a complete response, 16 showing a partial response, and 4 showing stable disease. Fifteen patients experienced grade 2 toxicity, and thirteen individuals experienced grade 3 toxicity in the pharynx. A median cumulative lifetime dosage of 116 GY was found. Conclusion: In this prospective single institutional trial, reirradiation and chemotherapy are being combined for the first time to treat recurrent SCCHN. We conclude that chemotherapy-assisted reirradiation up to a total dose of 60GY is feasible and efficient in carefully selected patients with manageable initial toxicities

Description

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