Faculty Collaboration Database

A Multi-institutional Comparison of SBRT and IMRT for Definitive Reirradiation of Recurrent or Second Primary Head and Neck Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018 Mar 01;100(3):595-605

Date

09/14/2017

Pubmed ID

28899556

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7418052

DOI

10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.04.017

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85028921176 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   96 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: Two modern methods of reirradiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), are established for patients with recurrent or second primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (rSCCHN). We performed a retrospective multi-institutional analysis to compare methods.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from patients with unresectable rSCCHN previously irradiated to ≥40 Gy who underwent reirradiation with IMRT or SBRT were collected from 8 institutions. First, the prognostic value of our IMRT-based recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) separating those patients with unresectable tumors with an intertreatment interval >2 years or those with ≤2 years and without feeding tube or tracheostomy dependence (class II) from other patients with unresected tumors (class III) was investigated among SBRT patients. Overall survival (OS) and locoregional failure were then compared between IMRT and SBRT by use of 2 methods to control for baseline differences: Cox regression weighted by the inverse probability of treatment and subset analysis by RPA classification.

RESULTS: The study included 414 patients with unresectable rSCCHN: 217 with IMRT and 197 with SBRT. The unadjusted 2-year OS rate was 35.4% for IMRT and 16.3% for SBRT (P<.01). Among SBRT patients, RPA classification retained an independent association with OS. On Cox regression weighted by the inverse probability of treatment, no significant differences in OS or locoregional failure between IMRT and SBRT were demonstrated. Analysis by RPA class showed similar OS between IMRT and SBRT for class III patients. In all class II patients, IMRT was associated with improved OS (P<.001). Further subset analysis demonstrated comparable OS when ≥35 Gy was delivered with SBRT to small tumor volumes. Acute grade ≥4 toxicity was greater in the IMRT group than in the SBRT group (5.1% vs 0.5%, P<.01), with no significant difference in late toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS: Reirradiation both with SBRT and with IMRT appear relatively safe with favorable toxicity compared with historical studies. Outcomes vary by RPA class, which informs clinical trial design. Survival is poor in class III patients, and alternative strategies are needed.

Author List

Vargo JA, Ward MC, Caudell JJ, Riaz N, Dunlap NE, Isrow D, Zakem SJ, Dault J, Awan MJ, Higgins KA, Hassanadeh C, Beitler JJ, Reddy CA, Marcrom S, Boggs DH, Bonner JA, Yao M, Machtay M, Siddiqui F, Trotti AM, Lee NY, Koyfman SA, Ferris RL, Heron DE

Author

Musaddiq J. Awan MD Assistant Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Lymphoma
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Neoplasms, Second Primary
Radiosurgery
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
Re-Irradiation
Retrospective Studies
Young Adult