Accelerated hypofractionated chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer during COVID 19 pandemic: A tertiary care experience.

PURPOSE: To assess the role of Accelerated Hypofractionated Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Head & Neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) during COVID 19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Previously untreated 20 patients with locally advanced HNSCC (Oral cavity/oropharynx/larynx/hypopharynx) were treated with definitive hypofractionated radiotherapy of 60Gy in 25 fractions with concurrent cisplatin @35 mg/m2 once weekly for 5 weeks from March 2020 to November 2021. The patients were treated on 6MV LINAC with Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) by the Sequential boost technique and concurrent chemotherapy @35 mg/m2. All the patients received 48Gy in 20 fractions to low-risk volume (CTV LR) in Phase I followed by 12Gy in 5 fractions boost to High-risk volume (CTV HR) in Phase II. The organs at risk (OARs) were contoured and appropriate constraints were given considering the hypofractionated regimen. RESULTS: Out of 20 patients, most of the patients were Stage IV (15;75%) & stage III 20%, out of which (55%) 11 were of the oral cavity, (40%) 8 were of the oropharynx, and (5%) 1 of larynx. All patients were treated with 60Gy/25#/5 weeks with the majority of the patients (17;85%) completing their treatment in less than 45 days. The Median follow-up was of 214 days. The locoregional control at 6 Months was 55%. Maximum acute toxicity was grade 3 mucositis which was observed in 18 (90%) patients. Ryle's tube feeding was needed in 11 (55%) patient. Out of 20 patients, 5 patients did not receive concurrent chemotherapy, and 8 (40%) patients received all 5 cycles of chemotherapy. 7, 35% of the patients could not complete all 5 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy due to grade 3 mucositis. CONCLUSION: During a pandemic crisis with limited manpower & technical resources accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy can be considered a feasible therapeutic option for HNSCC which can significantly reduce the overall Treatment Time (OTT) with comparable local control and manageable toxicities.

Percutaneous high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy for non-resectable, chemo resistant malignant lesion of lung and liver.

PURPOSE: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of interstitial brachytherapy application for nonresectable and chemo-resistant malignant liver and lung lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR ISBT) was applied in nine lesions of seven middle-aged patients with advanced carcinoma (five patients with liver lesion and two patients with lung lesion). All patients were surgically ineligible. All patients had already received systemic chemotherapy. Under computed tomography (CT) guidance (for lung lesion) or ultrasonography (USG) guidance (for liver lesion), a single stainless steel brachytherapy needle was inserted percutaneously in patients with lesion size ≤4 centimeter (cm) and multiple needles were inserted in patients of lesion size >4cm. A single dose of 15 Gy to 20 Gy with HDR ISBT was prescribed at the periphery of the lesion. The needles were removed just after treatment. Patients were kept under observation for 24 h after treatment. RESULTS: The median size of the lesion was 6.5 cm. In all the cases of liver lesion, more than 75% shrinkage of tumor volume in follow-up at 6 mo was observed. It was more than 50% for lung lesion. None of the patients had developed significant complications as on the median follow up period of 15 mo (ranges 3-27 mo). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous CT-guided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy is a minimally invasive, safe, and feasible treatment option with minimal complication for inoperable, chemo resistant, advanced cancers with encouraging treatment outcomes.

Role of benzydamine hydrochloride in the prevention of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy (>50 Gy) with or without chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Benzydamine is recommended for prophylaxis of oral mucositis (OM) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients for radiation doses (<50 Gy). This study evaluates role of benzydamine for higher radiation doses (>50 Gy) with or without chemotherapy. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients of HNC with planned radiation doses of ≥60 Gy were randomized to group A (control radiotherapy alone), group B (study radiotherapy alone), group C (control chemoradiotherapy), or to group D (study chemoradiotherapy). Groups A and C were advised saline mouth rinses, and in groups B and D, additional benzydamine rinses (0.15%) were advised. Mucositis grading was done with both WHO (WHO-M) and CTCAE (CTC-M) version 4.0 (common terminology criteria for adverse events) weekly. RESULTS: Patient characteristics are presented in the table. Patients in group B had lesser grade 3 WHO-M and CTC-M as compared to group A, 62.1 vs. 36.4% (p = 0.038) and 51.7 vs. 27.3% (p = 0.043), respectively. The rates of Ryle's tube feeding (RTF), intravenous fluid supplementation (IVF), and hospitalization were also lesser in group B as compared to A, 34.5 vs. 21.2% (p = 0.18), 27.6 vs. 9.1% (p = 0.06), and 6.9 vs. 0% (p = 0.21), respectively. WHO-M and CTC-M in groups C and D were not statistically different, 64.3 vs. 43.3% (p = 0.091) and 53.6% vs. 43.3% (p = 0.30), respectively. The rates of RTF, IVF, and hospitalization were all lesser but p > 0.05. CONCLUSION: Benzydamine significantly reduces OM even at doses >50 Gy in HNC patients. Its role in patients receiving concurrent chemotherapy further needs to be evaluated.