Comparative Study of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare treatment response and toxicity profile among two groups of unresectable locally advanced head and neck malignancies receiving concurrent chemo-radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone after completing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Material and methods: Total 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 alone versus RT along with concurrent 3 weekly inj Cisplatin 80mg/m2 divided in two days. Disease response was evaluated by RECIEST criteria. Result: 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 88% vs 80% in concurrent CTRT vs RT alone. However toxicity profile was higher in concurrent CTRT group. The 6 months PFS were 83.3% and 78.3% in CTRT and RT alone groups respectively; (X2 =0.196, p value= >.05).