Seminars in Radiation Oncology
Volume 19, Issue 1 , Pages 3-10 , January 2009

Current State-of-the-Art for Concurrent Chemoradiation

  • Jacques Bernier, MD, PD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to Jacques Bernier, MD, PD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Genolier Swiss Medical Network, Clinique de Genolier, 4, route du Muids, CH −1272 Genolier Switzerland

References 

  1. Hall SF, Groome PA, Rothwell D. The impact of comorbidity on the survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Head Neck. 2000;22:317–322
  2. Rosenthal DI, Asper JA, Barker JL. Importance of patient examination to clinical quality assurance in head and neck radiation oncology. Head Neck. 2006;28:967–973
  3. Ribeiro KC, Kowalski LP, Latorre MR. Impact of comorbidity, symptoms and patients' characteristics on the prognosis or oral carcinomas. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126:1079–1085
  4. Forastiere AA, Lee NY. Head and neck cancers. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology–v. 1.2006. http://www.nccn.orgAccessed Oct. 3, 2008.
  5. Bernier J, Bentzen SM. Altered fractionation and combined radio-chemotherapy approaches: Pioneering new opportunities in head and neck oncology. Eur J Cancer. 2003;39:560–571
  6. Munro AJ. An overview of randomised controlled trials of adjuvant chemotherapy in head and neck cancer. Br J Cancer. 1995;71:83–91
  7. El Sayed S, Nelson N. Adjuvant and adjunctive chemotherapy in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (A meta-analysis of prospective and randomized trials). J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:838–847
  8. Pignon JP, Bourhis J, Domenge C. Chemotherapy added to locoregional treatment for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma: Three meta-analyses of updated individual data (MACH-NC Collaborative Group. Meta-Analysis of Chemotherapy on Head and Neck Cancer). Lancet. 2000;355:949–955
  9. Browman GP, Hodson DI, Mackenzie RJ. Choosing a concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimen for squamous cell head and neck cancer: A systematic review of the published literature with subgroup analysis. Head Neck. 2001;23:579–589
  10. Bernier J. Alteration of radiotherapy fractionation and concurrent chemotherapy: A new frontier in head and neck oncology?. Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2005;2:305–314
  11. Bernier J. A multidisciplinary approach to squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck: An update. Curr Opin Oncol. 2008;20:249–255
  12. Forastiere AA, Goepfert H, Maor M. Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for organ preservation in advanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:2091–2098
  13. Adelstein DJ, Li Y, Adams GL. An intergroup phase III comparison of standard radiation therapy and two schedules of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable squamous cell head and neck cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2003;21:92–98
  14. Huguenin P, Beer KI, Allal A. Concomitant cisplatin significantly improves locoregional control in advanced head and neck cancers treated with hyperfractionated radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22:4665–4673
  15. Schrijvers D, Vermorken JB. Role of taxoids in head and neck cancer. Oncologist. 2000;5:199–208
  16. Bentzen SM, Harari PM, Bernier J. Exploitable mechanisms for combining drugs with radiation: Concepts, achievements and future directions. Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2007;4:172–180
  17. Biete Solà A, Marruecos Querol J, Calvo Manuel FA. Phase II trial: concurrent radio-chemotherapy with weekly docetaxel for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. Clin Transl Oncol. 2007;9:244–250
  18. Kasibhatla M, Kirkpatrick JP, Brizel DM. How much radiation is the chemotherapy worth in advanced head and neck cancer?. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007;68:1491–1495
  19. Bourhis J, Amand C, Pignon J-P. Update of MACH-NC (meta-analysis of chemotherapy in head & neck cancer) database focused on concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 2004;22:5505;(abstr).
  20. Budach W, Hehr T, Budach V. A meta-analysis of hyperfractionated and accelerated radiotherapy and combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens in unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. BMC Cancer. 2006;6:28
  21. Lefebvre JL, Chevalier D, Luboinski B. Larynx preservation in pyriform sinus cancer: Preliminary results of a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer phase III trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996;88:890–899
  22. Forastiere AA, Goepfert H, Maor M. Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for organ preservation in adavanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:2091–2098
  23. Lefebvre J, Horiot JC, Rolland F. Phase III study on larynx preservation comparing induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy versus alternating chemoradiotherapy in resectable hypopharynx and larynx cancers (EORTC protocol 24954-22950). Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 2007;25:6016;(abstr).
  24. Bernier J, Domenge C, Ozsahin M. Postoperative irradiation with or without concomitant chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1945–1952
  25. Cooper JS, Pajak TF, Forastiere AA. Postoperative concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for high-risk squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1937–1944
  26. Bernier J, Cooper JS, Pajak TF. Defining risk levels in locally advanced head and neck cancers: A comparative analysis of concurrent postoperative radiation plus chemotherapy trials of the EORTC (#22931) and RTOG (#9501). Head Neck. 2005;27:843–850
  27. Cooper JS, Bernier J. Rationale for triage in the postoperative management of head and neck cancers. Oncology. 2005;8:1011–1017
  28. Bernier J, Bonner J, Vermorken JB. Consensus guidelines for the management of radiation dermatitis and coexisting acne-like rash in patients receiving radiotherapy plus EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Ann Oncol. 2008;19:142–149
  29. Calais G, Alfonsi M, Bardet E. Randomized trial of radiation therapy versus concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for advanced-stage oropharynx carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:2081–2086
  30. Wendt TG, Grabenbauer GG, Rodel CM. Simultaneous radiochemotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in advanced head and neck cancer: A randomized multicenter study. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16:1318–1324
  31. Staar S, Rudat V, Stuetzer H. Intensified hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy limits the additional benefit of simultaneous chemotherapy—Results of a multicentric randomized German trial in advanced head-and-neck cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2001;50:1161–1171
  32. Ang KK, Harris J, Garden AS. Concomitant boost radiation plus concurrent cisplatin for advanced head and neck carcinomas: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group phase II trial 99-14. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:3008–3015
  33. Geeta SN, Padmanabhan TK, Samuel J. Comparison of acute toxicities of two chemotherapy schedules for head and neck cancers. J Cancer Res Ther. 2006;2:100–104
  34. Go RS, Adjei AA. Review of the comparative pharmacology and clinical activity of cisplatin and carboplatin. J Clin Oncol. 1999;17:409–422
  35. Jeremic B, Shibamoto Y, Stanisavljevic B. Radiation therapy alone with concurrent low-dose daily either cisplation or carboplatin in locally advanced unresectable siuamous celle carcinoma of the head and neck: A prospective randomized trial. Radiother Oncol. 1997;43:29–37
  36. Fountzilas G, Ciuleanu E, Dafni U. Concomitant radiochemotherapy vs radiotherapy alone in patients with head and neck cancer. Med Oncol. 2004;21:95–107
  37. Machtay M, Moughan J, Trotti A. Factors associated with severe late toxicity after concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer: An RTOG analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:3582–3589
  38. Argiris A, Li Y, Forastiere A. Prognostic factors and long-term survivorship in patients with recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer. 2004;101:2222–2229
  39. Posner MR, Hershock DM, Blajman CR. Cisplatin and fluorouracil alone or with docetaxel in head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:1705–17152007
  40. Trotti A, Pajak TF, Gwede CK. TAME: Development of a new method for summarising adverse events of cancer treatment by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Lancet Oncol. 2007;8:613–624
  41. Bentzen SM, Trotti A. Evaluation of early and late toxicities in chemoradiation trials. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:4096–4103
  42. de Graeff A, de Leeuw JR. Sociodemographic factors and quality of life as prognostic indicators in head and neck cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2001;37:332–339
  43. Mowry SE, Ho A, Lotempio MM. Quality of life in advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma after chemoradiation versus surgery and radiation. Laryngoscope. 2006;116:1589–1593
  44. Nguyen NP, Vos P, Karlsson U. Quality of life following chemoradiation and postoperative radiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2007;69:271–276
  45. Lotempio MM, Wang KH, Sadeghi A. Comparison of quality of life outcomes in laryngeal cancer patients following chemoradiation v. total laryngectomy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005;132:948–953
  46. Hanna E, Sherman A, Cash D. Quality of life for patients following total laryngectomy vs chemoradiation for laryngeal preservation. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:875–879
  47. Argiris A, Li Y, Forastiere A. Prognostic factors and long-term survivorship in patients with recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer. 2004;101:2222–2229
  48. Department of Veterans' Affairs Laryngeal Cancer Study Group. Induction chemotherapy plus radiation compared with surgery plus radiation in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med. 1991;324:1685–1690
  49. Schuller DE, Metch B, Stein DW. Preoperative chemotherapy in advanced resectable head and neck cancer: Final report of the Southwest Oncology Group. Laryngoscope. 1988;98:1205–1211
  50. Vermorken JB, Remenar E, van Herpen C. Cisplatin, fluorouracil, and docetaxel in unresectable head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:1695–1704
  51. Haddad R. Phase III randomized study of induction chemotherapy comprising docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy and carboplatin or docetaxel versus radiotherapy and cisplatin only in patients with previously untreated stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (Protocol DFCI-04006). www.cancer.govAccessed Oct. 3, 2008.
  52. Vokes EE, Stenson K, Rosen FR. Weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by concomitant paclitaxel, fluorouracil, and hydroxyurea chemoradiotherapy: Curative and organ-preserving therapy for advanced head and neck caner. J Clin Oncol. 2003;21:320–326
  53. Machtay M, Rosenthal DI, Hershock D. Organ preservation therapy using induction plus concurrent chemoradiation for advanced resectable oropharyngeal carcinoma: A University of Pennsylvania phase II trial. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20:3964–3971
  54. Calais G, Bardet E, Sire C. Radiotherapy with concomitant weekly docetaxel for stages III/IV oropharynx carcinoma (Results of the 98-02 GORTEC Phase II trial). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004;58:161–166
  55. Specenier PM, Van den Weyngaert D, Van Laer C. Phase II feasibility study of concurrent radiotherapy and gemcitabine in chemonaive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Long-term follow up data. Ann Oncol. 2007;18:1856–1860
  56. Salama JK, Mell LK, Schomas DA. Concurrent chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy for anal canal cancer patients: A multicenter experience. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:4581–4586
  57. RTOG Trial 0234. http://www.rtog.org/members/protocols/0234/0234.pdfAccessed Oct. 3, 2008.
  58. RTOG Trial 0522. http://www.rtog.org/members/protocols/0522/0522.pdfAccessed Oct. 3, 2008.
  59. Robbins KT, Kumar P, Harris J. Supradose intra-arterial cisplatin and concurrent radiation therapy for the treatment of stage IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is feasible and efficacious in a multi-institutional setting: Results of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 9615. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:1447–1454
  60. Mannarini L, Bertino G, Morbini P. Markers of chemoradiation resistance in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, treated by intra-arterial carboplatin and concurrent radiation. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2007;27:173–180
  61. van den Broek GB, Wreesmann VB, van den Brekel MW. Genetic abnormalities associated with chemoradiation resistance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2007;13:4386–4391

 J. Bernier is occasionally member of advisory boards for Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck-Serono, and Sanofi-Aventis.

PII: S1053-4296(08)00057-X

doi: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2008.09.002

Seminars in Radiation Oncology
Volume 19, Issue 1 , Pages 3-10 , January 2009