Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy followed by a brachytherapy boost for oropharyngeal cancer
Abrahim Al-Mamgani1, Peter C Levendag, Peter van Rooij
1Departments of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center - Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to reduce the incidence of radiation-induced toxicity in patients with early-stage oropharyngeal cancer, using highly conformal radiation techniques.
Methods:
Between 2000 and 2011, 167 patients with T1-3N0-3 oropharyngeal cancer were treated with 46-Gy intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) followed by 22-Gy brachytherapy boost. In patients with node-positive disease, neck dissection was performed.
Results:
The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of local control, regional control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were 94%, 97%, 84%, and 72%, respectively. Feeding tubes were required in 26% of the patients. Grade ≥2 late xerostomia and dysphagia were 11% and 8%, respectively. Chemotherapy, tumor subsite, and bilateral neck irradiation correlate significantly with toxicity. Quality of life (QOL) scores deteriorate during and shortly after treatment but returned in all scales to baseline scores within 6 to 12 months, with the exception of xerostomia.
Conclusion:
Brachytherapy boost and neck dissection (in node-positive oropharyngeal cancer) after 46-Gy of IMRT resulted in excellent outcomes with low incidence of late toxicity and good QOL scores.
Related Concept Videos
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...