Retrospective review of patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced thyroid cancer: The Dana-Farber experience. Journal of Clinical Oncology
Date
05/01/2012Abstract
e16060 Background: Chemotherapy has been used concurrently with radiation for local control as adjuvant treatment or for locally recurrent thyroid cancer. We present our experience using IMRT with or without sensitizing concurrent chemotherapy in this setting. Methods: All patients with thyroid carcinoma with or without minimal metastatic disease treated since 2005 at DFCI were reviewed. We collected data and analyzed the outcomes of patients treated with IMRT with or without concurrent chemotherapy for local control. Results: Twenty-two patients were identified: 13 Males, 9 Female, Median age 60 years There were 11 papillary, 6 medullary, 4 anaplastic, and1 follicular. Thirteen patients were treated adjuvantly, seven for locally recurrent disease and two definitively for unresectable disease. All patients with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer had prior surgery and radioactive iodine therapy. Patients with medullary carcinoma had surgery alone. Two patients with anaplastic carcinoma had surgery and two were found to be unresectable.. Seventeen patients received concurrent weekly carboplatin AUC1.5 and paclitaxel 30mg/m ² with radiation. Five patients did not receive any concurrent chemotherapy and were treated with radiotherapy alone. Radiation fields encompassed the thyroid bed, bilateral neck and in some cases the mediastinum. The radiation dose ranged from 5600cGy to 6600cGy. Mean follow up was 42 months. The overall survival at 36 months was 89.5% (95% CI, 76.7-100). Two patients with unresectable anaplastic thyroid cancer died from progressive disease. Loco-regional control rate at 36 months was 78.9% (95% CI, 62.6-99.6). No grade 3 or 4 toxicities were reported during treatment. Conclusions: IMRT with or without concurrent chemotherapy provided excellent loco regional control and might have contributed to improved overall survival in patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer.
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