Radiotherapy results of patients with oral cavity and oropharynx tumours

OBJECTIVES To evaluate patients with oral cavity (OC) and oropharynx (OP) tumours treated with definitive radiotherapy (+/- chemotherapy) and adjuvant radiotherapy according to treatment protocol of Dokuz Eylul Head and Neck Cancer Group (DEBBKG) between August 1991 and June 2003. METHODS In total 148 patients (50 females, 98 males; median age 60; range 24 to 90 years) (128 (86%) OC; 20 (14%) OP) were evaluated. Stage distribution is as follows; stage-I: 15 (10%); stage-II: 14 (9%); stage-III: 35 (24%); stage-IV: 84 (57%). Adjuvant radiotherapy performed in 67 (45%) patients; definitive radiotherapy in 81 (55%) patients. Twenty seven (18%) patients received concomittant boost radiotherapy and 23 (16%) received concomittant cisplatin. Median total dose was 70 Gy (35-78) in the definitive setting and 51 Gy (21-70) in the adjuvant setting. RESULTS Median follow-up was 25 (3-158) months. In patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy, 2 and 5 years overall survival (OS) and disease free interval (DFI) rates were respectively; 75%; 61% and 75%; 64%. In definitive setting 2 and 5 years OS rates were 48%; 28% and DFI rates were 36%; 24% for OC; 2 and 5 years OS rates were 54%; 18% and DFI rates were 46%; 46% for OP cancer patients. CONCLUSION It is potentially possible to achive better results with combined treatment modalities in especially locally advanced OC and OP tumours.