Head and neck cancer is the most common cancer in developing countries. The concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) was a standard care for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma. So, the aim of the present retrospective study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of the radical concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients and to identify the prognostic and therapeutic factors affecting the outcome. This current study included 102 patients receiving radical radiotherapy concurrently with chemotherapy (Cisplatin, paclitaxel, and Docetaxel plus Cisplatin). These data were collected from the databases at South Egypt Cancer Institute and Assuit University Hospital.
In these patients, the sites of tumor were in the following descending order: larynx (65.7%), the oral cavity (16.7%), the hypopharynx (14.7%) and oropharynx (2.9%). The tumor stage IV was recorded in 83 patients (81.4%).
The loco-regional control after the treatment was 74.5%. The median follow up was 12 months. The 2-year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 26.7% and 23% respectively. The prognostic factors that were significantly associated with the tumor response were the tumor stage, the histopathologic grade, the radiation dose and radiation treatment time. The primary tumor site was the only significant independent prognostic factor affecting both OS and PFS and the radiation technique significantly affected OS but not PFS. The hazard ratio was considered in the significant prognostic factors to determine the importance of factor levels. The most common treatment toxicities recorded were for mucositis (29.4%), dysphagia (28.4%) and skin reaction (21.6%).