Quality-of-life after radiotherapy for advanced laryngeal cancer: Results of a phase III trial of the Dutch Head and Neck Society. Issue 2 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Janssens, Geert O.; Langendijk, Johannes A.; Terhaard, Chris H.; Doornaert, Patricia A.; van den Ende, Piet; de Jong, Martin A.; Takes, Robert P.; Span, Paul N.; Kaanders, Johannes H.
• Is Part Of: Radiotherapy and oncology. Volume 119:Issue 2(2016:May)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 220
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Quality-of-life -- Laryngeal cancer -- Accelerated radiotherapy -- ARCON -- Randomized trial; Oncology -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Periodicals; Medical Oncology -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiothérapie -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9940642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2016.02.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-8140

Abstract

Abstract: Background/purpose: To report on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) of patients with laryngeal cancer, treated in a randomized trial comparing accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide (ARCON) against accelerated radiotherapy alone (AR). Material/methods: HRQoL was assessed using the HRQoL Questionnaire-C30 (QLQ-C30) and the Head & Neck cancer module (QLQ-H&N35) at baseline, at completion of radiotherapy and at 6, 12, and 24 months post-baseline. Results: From 269/345 patients (AR: 136/174; ARCON: 133/171) data on HRQoL were available for analysis. Moderate to severe clinical impact of the treatment was observed for nearly all items of the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 between baseline and end-of-treatment. At 6 months, scores returned to baseline level with exception of dry mouth, sticky saliva, and taste/smell. No difference between AR and ARCON was observed. At 2 years from baseline, the percentage of patients reporting moderate to severe complaints of dry mouth, sticky saliva, or changes in taste/smell was 30%, 22% and 18%, respectively, while the majority of patients had no or few complaints of swallowing (79%) or speech (64%). Conclusions: With accelerated radiotherapy, high local tumor control was obtained while maintaining good speech and swallowing function. Long-term dry mouth, sticky saliva and changes in taste/smell are limited to one quarter of patients. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00147732).