Prospective observational study of carbon‐ion radiotherapy for non‐squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

• Published in: Cancer science Vol. 108; no. 10; pp. 2039 - 2044
• Main Authors: Shirai, Katsuyuki, Saitoh, Jun‐ichi, Musha, Atsushi, Abe, Takanori, Kobayashi, Daijiro, Takahashi, Takeo, Tamaki, Tomoaki, Kawamura, Hidemasa, Takayasu, Yukihiro, Shino, Masato, Toyoda, Minoru, Takahashi, Katsumasa, Hirato, Junko, Yokoo, Satoshi, Chikamatsu, Kazuaki, Ohno, Tatsuya, Nakano, Tatsuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-10-2017; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adenoid; Adult; Aged; Cancer therapies; Carbon; Carbon‐ion radiotherapy; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - mortality; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - radiotherapy; Chemotherapy; Dermatitis; Disease; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Head & neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - mortality; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; head and neck tumor; Heavy Ion Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Humans; Lymphatic system; Male; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Mucosa; Mucositis; Neck; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - epidemiology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - mortality; NMR; non‐squamous cell carcinoma; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Observational studies; Original; particle beam therapy; Prospective Studies; prospective study; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Radiation therapy; Radiotherapy Dosage; Squamous cell carcinoma; Studies; Survival Analysis; Tomography; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Japan; Carbon-ion radiotherapy; head and neck tumor; particle beam therapy; prospective study; non-squamous cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 1347-9032; 1349-7006
• DOI: 10.1111/cas.13325

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbon‐ion radiotherapy for non‐squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 35 patients were enrolled in this prospective study. The primary end‐point was the 3‐year local control rate, and the secondary end‐points included the 3‐year overall survival rate and adverse events. Acute and late adverse events were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. The median follow‐up time for all patients was 39 months. Thirty‐two and three patients received 64.0 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) and 57.6 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 16 fractions, respectively. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was dominant (60%). Four patients had local recurrence and five patients died. The 3‐year local control and overall survival rates were 93% and 88%, respectively. Acute grade 2–3 radiation mucositis (65%) and dermatitis (31%) was common, which improved immediately with conservative therapy. Late mucositis of grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 were observed in 11, one, and no patients, respectively. There were no adverse events of grade 5. Carbon‐ion radiotherapy achieved excellent local control and overall survival rates for non‐squamous cell carcinoma. However, the late mucosal adverse events were not rare, and meticulous treatment planning is required. Trial registration no. UMIN000007886.
Thirty‐five patients were prospectively enrolled to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbon‐ion radiotherapy for non‐squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The present study showed excellent local control and OS for NSCC, with 3‐year local control and OS rates of 93% and 88%, respectively.