The effect of short radiation treatment breaks on chemo-radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancers Journal Article


Authors: Rybkin, A.; Kang, J. J.; Lee, A.; Kitpanit, S.; Fan, M.; Mohamed, N.; Cartano, O.; Zakeri, K.; Gelblum, D.; Sherman, E.; Dunn, L.; Boyle, J.; Wong, R.; Chen, L.; Yu, Y.; McBride, S. M.; Tsai, C. J.; Riaz, N.; Lee, N. Y.
Article Title: The effect of short radiation treatment breaks on chemo-radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancers
Abstract: Background: Numerous studies and guidelines suggest an outcome detriment from radiation treatment breaks (rTBs) and the need for compensatory dosing in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: In a consecutive cohort of 521 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), we investigated the impact of rTBs and prolongation of overall treatment time (OTT) on OS, DFS, LRC, and cancer recurrence using competing risk and multivariate analyses. Results: Neither OTT prolongation by ≤2 days nor rTBs of ≤3 days were associated with detriments to clinical outcomes. Consecutive breaks of ≥3 days were also not significantly associated with detriment to clinical outcomes. There was significantly increased competing mortality in those with longer breaks. Conclusions: In OPSCC patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy, there is no significant association between disease failure and total rTBs of ≤3 consecutive or scattered days. Further investigation is needed for longer breaks. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Keywords: radiation; oropharynx; breaks; duration; gaps
Journal Title: Head & Neck
Volume: 43
Issue: 12
ISSN: 1043-3074
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.  
Date Published: 2021-12-01
Start Page: 3796
End Page: 3809
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/hed.26879
PUBMED: 34585792
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9414892
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 December 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Daphna Y Gelblum
    227 Gelblum
  2. Jay O Boyle
    148 Boyle
  3. Linda B Chen
    3 Chen
  4. Eric J Sherman
    341 Sherman
  5. Nadeem Riaz
    417 Riaz
  6. Nancy Y. Lee
    876 Lee
  7. Richard J Wong
    415 Wong
  8. Sean Matthew McBride
    295 McBride
  9. Lara   Dunn
    141 Dunn
  10. Chiaojung Jillian   Tsai
    239 Tsai
  11. Alisa   Rybkin
    9 Rybkin
  12. Anna Lee
    46 Lee
  13. Yao Yu
    114 Yu
  14. Jung Yun Kang
    50 Kang
  15. Kaveh Zakeri
    82 Zakeri
  16. Ming Fan
    13 Fan
  17. Nader Mohamed
    16 Mohamed