Clinical predictors of larynx preservation after multiagent concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Determining which patients benefit from larynx preservation strategies remains problematic. We reviewed our experience using multiagent concurrent chemoradiotherapy to identify clinical predictors for success.

Cisplatin and fluorouracil were given during weeks 1 and 4 of radiation to 115 patients with locoregionally advanced larynx or hypopharynx squamous cell cancer without cartilage invasion or laryngeal destruction. Laryngectomy was reserved for local failure.

The 5-year Kaplan-Meier projected overall survival was 58%, survival with larynx preservation 52%, local control without surgery 82%, local control (including surgical salvage) 94%, and survival with functional larynx 49%. Local control without surgery was superior in patients with T1-2 versus T3-4 tumors (97% vs 77%, p = .032). No other clinical parameters proved predictive of local control.

Larynx preservation was successful in all subsets of appropriately selected patients. Although local failure was more likely in patients with T3-4 tumors, it was infrequent and surgical salvage was effective.