Search

Definitive concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with high-dose cis-platinum (CDDP) is a current standard protocol for advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer sparing surgery for salvage. However, this modality is associated with limited feasibility and frequent sever toxicities. In the present study, a 'chemoradioselection' protocol with minimal toxicity was developed using initial response to CRT as a biomarker for patient selection. Between 2000, March and 2012, September 123 patients with stage III (44), IV (79) laryngeal (64) and hypopharyngeal carcinoma (59) excluding T4 cases were enrolled to this protocol. Two cycles of split (15 mg/m2 x5 days, 2000-2008) or bolus (80 mg/m2, 2009-present) CDDP was concurrently administered. Tumor responses were evaluated after 40 Gy of CRT and 64 responders (chemoradioselected, CRS) received further CRT up to 70 Gy, while radical surgery was recommended for the 59 non-responders (N-CRS), and 34 underwent surgery (N-CRS-ope). The remaining 25 patients who refused surgery (N-CRS-refu) were treated with continuous CRT. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 67, and 77%, respectively. The CRS demonstrated favorable 5-year OS (73%) and laryngo-esophageal dysfunction-free survival (LEDFS, 69%) rates. In contrast, the N-CRS-refu showed significantly lower 5-year OS (47%) compared with CRS (73%) and N-CRS-ope (70%) (P=0.0193), and significantly lower 5-year LEDFS (20%) compared with the CRS (69%) (P<0.0001). On multivariate analyses, including T, N, primary site and planned treatment (CRS + N-CRS-ope) or not (N-CRS-refu), unplanned treatment alone showed a significant correlation with poor OS [hazard ratio (HR), 2.584; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.313-4.354; P=0.007). Chemoradioselection reflects the biological aggressiveness of each tumor, and is able to segregate patients for functional laryngeal preservation with moderate intensity CRT (150-160 mg/m2 of CDDP) from those who would be better treated with surgery. This strategy may be useful for the optimization of the therapeutic intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas frequently develop distant metastases to limited organs, including the lungs, bone, mediastinal lymph nodes, brain, and liver. Peritoneal carcinomatosis as an initial distant metastasis from hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is quite rare. Case presentation: A 75-year-old man diagnosed with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and his clinical stage was determined as T2N2cM0. Notably, the right retropharyngeal lymph node surrounded more than half of the right internal carotid artery. Concomitant conformal radiation therapy was administered for the primary hypopharyngeal lesion, and the whole neck and tumor response was evaluated at this point according to our algorithm-based chemoradioselection protocol. As the tumor responses at both the primary and lymph nodes were poor, with the right retropharyngeal lymph node in particular demonstrating mild enlargement, we performed a radical surgery: pharyngolaryngectomy, bilateral neck dissection, and reconstruction of the cervical esophagus with a free jejunal flap. Then, postoperative CRT was performed. During these therapies, the patient developed a fever and mild abdominal pain, which was associated with an increased C-reactive protein level. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography from the neck to the pelvis demonstrated mild peritoneal hypertrophy and ascites with no evidence of recurrent and/or metastatic tumor formation. We initially diagnosed acute abdomen symptoms as postoperative ileus. However, cytological examination of the refractory ascites resulted in a diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Owing to rapid disease progress, the patient died 1.5 months after abdominal symptom onset. Conclusions: The present case is the second reported case of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis as an incipient distant metastasis. Therefore, peritoneal carcinomatosis should be considered a differential diagnosis when acute abdomen is noted during treatment for head and neck cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]