Comprehensive IMRT plus weekly cisplatin for advanced head and neck cancer: The University of Wisconsin experience

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively examined the treatment efficacy and toxicity profile of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plus concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: A total of 57 patients with stage III or IV HNSCC were treated with IMRT and concurrent weekly cisplatin (dosed at 30 mg/m(2)) between November 2001 and May 2007. The median prescription dose to the gross tumor volume was 70 Gy (using 2.0-2.2 Gy daily fractions). RESULTS: In-field tumor control at 2 years was 89.1%, locoregional control was 85.5%, and overall survival was 86.9%. The median radiation dose delivered was 70 Gy. The mean dose intensity of cisplatin administered was 25.7 mg/m(2)/week. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive head and neck IMRT to 70 Gy delivered with weekly cisplatin chemotherapy (30 mg/m(2)) is feasible and generally well tolerated.