ABSTRACT
A fresh analysis of the data entered into the multicentre BIR fractionation trial of 3F/week versus 5F/week in radiotherapy of the laryngopharynx has been undertaken. Completed records of the 732 patients initially entered into the trial have now risen from 687 at the last report to 706. The data have been analysed in a manner similar to that adopted previously so as to measure the effects of the two regimes on both tumour and normal tissues, and some additional analyses have now also been made. There have been some modifications in the results in the various sub-groups which may be due to an inadequate number of patients having been followed up for long enough at the time of the previous analyses. More data for late radiation damage to normal tissues and new radiobiological findings have suggested possible explanations for the differences which have emerged between the two groups. The apparent differences between the sub-groups containing patients with highly localized tumours, which were reported in our previous report, are now less marked and not statistically significant.
Subject(s)
Laryngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Pharyngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Laryngeal Neoplasms/mortality , Laryngeal Neoplasms/surgery , Laryngectomy , Lymphatic Metastasis , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiotherapy , Pharyngeal Neoplasms/mortality , Radiotherapy DosageABSTRACT
The results are reported of the multicentre BIR fractionation trial of 3F/week versus 5F/week in radiotherapy of the laryngo-pharynx. 687 patient records have been analysed with respect to survival rates, recurrence-free rates and laryngectomy-free rates. For the group as a whole these analyses show no difference between the two fractionation regimes. Analysis of the sub-group which had early disease confined to the vocal cords does, however, show a better recurrence-free and laryngectomy-free rate for those patients treated with 5F/week, though the survival rate for the two groups remains similar. Acute and late normal tissue reactions are reported for up to six years after treatment. It appears that treatment with 3F/week can be given safely to patients with advanced disease. The differences between the two treatment groups who had early disease of the vocal cords are discussed, but until more data become available in the future the problems raised cannot be resolved.
