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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Retroductal Submandibular Gland Instillation and Localized Fractionated Irradiation in a Rat Model of Salivary Hypofunction
Published on: April 24, 2016
Chemoreirradiation for recurrent salivary gland malignancies
Aaron W Pederson1, Daniel J Haraf, Elizabeth A Blair
1Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Background And Purpose:
To report our experience in treating recurrent salivary gland malignancies using concurrent chemotherapy and reirradiation.
Materials And Methods:
Between 1986 and 2007, 14 patients with locoregionally recurrent salivary gland cancer underwent maximal surgical resection followed by adjuvant 5-fluorouracil and hydroxyurea-based chemotherapy concurrently with 1.5Gy twice daily or 2Gy daily reirradiation. Each cycle consisted of chemoreirradiation for 5 consecutive days followed by a 9-day break. The median reirradiation dose was 66Gy (R 30-72Gy) after a mean radiation treatment interval of 48 months.
Results:
The median follow-up for all patients was 18 months (R 2-125 months) and 41 months for survivors. The parotid gland (n=6) and minor salivary glands (n=6) were involved more commonly than the submandibular gland (n=2). Locoregional control at 1 and 3years was 72.2% and 51.6%, respectively. Actuarial overall survival at 3 and 5 years was 35.7% and 26.8%, respectively. Tracheostomies and feeding tubes were placed in 2 and 8 patients, respectively. Six patients had feeding tubes at last follow-up or death.
Conclusions:
Concurrent chemotherapy and reirradiation for recurrent salivary malignancies result in promising locoregional control for patients with recurrent salivary gland malignancies.
