Chemoradiation in elderly patients with head and neck cancers: a single institution experience

• Published in: American journal of otolaryngology 2015-03, Vol.36 (2), p.117-121
• Main Authors: Kataria, Tejinder, MD, DNB, Gupta, Deepak, MD, Bisht, Shyam Singh, MD, Goyal, Shikha, MD, DNB, Basu, Trinanjan, MD, Srivastava, Anurita, MD, DNB, Abhishek, Ashu, MD, HB, Govardhan, MD, DNB, Sharma, Kuldeep, MD, DNB, Kumar, Vikash, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Chemoradiotherapy - adverse effects; Chemoradiotherapy - methods; Chemotherapy; Cohort Studies; Compliance; Disease-Free Survival; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Dysphagia; Endoscopy; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Head & neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - mortality; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy; Humans; India; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Larynx; Male; Medical treatment; Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology; Neoplasm Staging; Ostomy; Otolaryngology; Patient Safety; Radiation therapy; Retrospective Studies; Spinal cord; Surgery; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0196-0709; 1532-818X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2014.07.015

Abstract Aims To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiation in patients with head and neck cancers aged 65 and older. Materials and methods Thirty-two elderly patients were treated with radical chemoradiation. Twenty-six (81.3%) out of thirty-two patients had stage III–IV disease. Twenty-nine (90.6%) patients received concurrent weekly cisplatin or carboplatin, 3 (9.4%) patients received concurrent cetuximab or nimotuzumab. Total dose of radiotherapy ranged from 66 Gy to 70 Gy. Results Twenty-nine patients (90.6%) completed at least 5 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy. Twenty-four (77.6%) patients achieved complete response. Fourteen (45.2%) patients experienced grade 3 mucositis. None of our patients developed grade 3 or above hematological toxicity. Loco-regional control and overall survival at 2 year were 71.6% and 88.9%, respectively. Conclusions Chemoradiation in elderly patients with high precision radiotherapy is a feasible option.