The purpose of the study was to assess difference in the treatment response and toxicity profile  among two groups of unresectable locally advanced head and neck malignancies receiving concurrent weekly chemoradiotherapy  vs 3-weekly chemoradiotherapy after completing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

50 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (inj. paclitaxel 175 mg/m² D1, Cisplatin 80mg/m² divided in 2 days & inj 5FU 1gm/m² iv d1 & d2).Then randomly allotted into above two groups to receive 66 Gy fractionated RT along with concurrent weekly inj Cisplatin 40mg/m² in day1 versus RT along with concurrent 3 weekly inj Cisplatin 80mg/m2 devided in day1 & day2. Disease response was evaluated by RECIEST criteria.

All patients tolerated treatment well, no major adverse effects were monitored in two groups. There was no significant statistical difference in treatment response, which was found 84% vs 80% in concurrent weekly CTRT vs 3-weekly CTRT. however toxicity profile was higher in 3-weekly concurrent CTRT group. The  6 months PFS were 88% and 85.6% in CTRT and RT alone groups respectively; ( p value>0.05)

Keywords: Chemoradiotherapy, Induction chemotherapy, Unresectable locally advanced head and neck cancer.

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Dr Neeti Sharma

Professor and Head, Radiation Oncology Department, ATRCTRI, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner