Conventional chemoradiation versus accelerated chemoradiation: A prospective study in oropharyngeal cancer

Squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck is predominantly a loco regional disease, and the primary treatment methods are surgery and radiotherapy. For patients with locally-regionally advanced oropharyngeal cancer, concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment.

The aim and objectives of study were a) to compare locoregional response in two arms, b) to compare acute and chronic treatment-related toxicities in the two arms, and c) to compare the quality of life. The study was conducted between August 2014 and April 2016, with 86 patients of histologically proven squamous-cell carcinoma of oropharynx. This is a prospective trial to assess the suitability of five versus six weekly radiotherapy fractions, along with concurrent cisplatin, given to the same total dose, in all stages of oropharyngeal cancer patients.

Patients were randomized into two arms: conventional arm (Arm A), which received 5 fractions per week RT -70GY/7 weeks/35#, and accelerated arm (Arm B), which received 6 fractions per week RT -70GY/6 weeks/35. Locoregional squamous-cell carcinoma improved significantly in the accelerated fractionation group compared with that in the conventional RT group.

Accelerated RT enhances improvement of locoregional control in the squamous-cell carcinoma of head and neck region, with reduction in overall treatment time and concurrent chemotherapy. Locoregional control of carcinoma improved significantly in the accelerated fractionation group compared with that in the conventional RT group.