Retrospective analysis of the clinical efficacy of concurrent weekly cisplatinum – radiotherapy for patients with laryngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction and aim: Laryngeal preservation with concurrent chemo-radiation is an effective, alternative management forcancer larynx. Three weekly cis-platinum concurrent with radiotherapy (RT) considered the standard. However, weekly cisplatinumhas proven very effective for advanced head and neck carcinoma. We review our data to prove the efficacy and safety ofweekly cis-platinum plus RT for laryngeal preservation.

Patients and methods: Untreated 64 patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Patients offeredfor 6 weeks of cis-platinum 40 mg/m² concurrent with conformal RT; 70 Gy delivered to gross primary and lymph nodes.

Results: Forty-six (71.8%) patients had complete remission (CR). Early stages had better CR than late stages. Median follow upwas 40 months. Three years DFS and OS were 69% and 77% respectively. Larynx preservation survival at 3 years was 73%.Protocol of treatment was tolerable, grade 3 or 4 acute and late toxic effects were reported in 25% of the included cases.

Conclusion: Weekly cis-platinum could be effective and safe. We need to evaluate this protocol prospectively and compare itwith three-weekly high dose cis-platinum with concomitant radiotherapy.