Long-term late toxicity analysis in patients with stage T1-T3N0 squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma treated with radical intent with conventional and accelerated schedules of radiotherapy

Abstract

Aim of the study. The analysis of early and late toxicity was assessed comparing two schedules of irradiation — conventional fractionation (CF) and accelerated fractionation (AF). Our population of patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx stage T1-T3N0M0. All were treated with radical intent.

Material and method. Patients treated 1995–1998 in the Centre of Oncology in Warsaw were separately analyzed in a phase III multicentre clinical trial. Patients were irradiated with Co-60, in the CF arm to a total dose of 66 Gy in 33 fractions with an overall treatment time of 45 days. In the AF arm the overall treatment time was 7 days shorter but the rest of parameters were not changed.

Results. A higher percentage of acute post-irradiation reactions was observed in patients who underwent AF. The early reactions settled down after termination in 5 to 8 weeks in both fractionation methods. There were no serious late post-irradiation complications stated in both group of patients examined.