Improved local control for advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma following twice daily radiation therapy

This paper presents the results of treatment on 99 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx irradiated by the twice-a-day radiation therapy program at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The program consisted of 1.6 Gy per fraction, two fractions per day with 4 hours between fractions, for 12 days, 5 days a week. After 38.4 Gy, the patients were given a 2 week break and then resumed twice-a-day radiation therapy for a total of 64 Gy and occasionally 67.2 Gy. Fifty-two patients had carcinoma of the faucial tonsil and 47 patients had carcinoma of the base of the tongue. For the entire group of patients, the 36 month actuarial local control rate was 58%, and for the T1-2 and T3-4 lesions, the rates were 77% and 48% respectively. In comparison with patients treated by once-a-day radiation therapy for a few years immediately prior to the twice-a-day program, the local control rates were improved to a statistically significant level. Likewise, the results as compared to those published in the literature were no worse and perhaps superior to those of patients treated by the once-a-day schedule.