Long-Term Quality of Life After Swallowing and Salivary-Sparing Chemo–Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in Survivors of Human Papillomavirus–Related Oropharyngeal Cancer

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJROBP.2014.12.045· OSTI ID:22458665

Vainshtein, Jeffrey M. ^[1]; Moon, Dominic H. ^[2]; Feng, Felix Y. ^[1]; Chepeha, Douglas B. ^[3]; Eisbruch, Avraham ^[1]; Stenmark, Matthew H. ^[1]

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1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (United States)
2. University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (United States)
3. Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (United States)

Purpose: To evaluate long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in 2 prospective studies of chemo–intensity modulated radiation therapy (chemo-IMRT) for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Methods and Materials: Of 93 patients with stage III/IV OPC treated on prospective studies of swallowing and salivary organ-sparing chemo-IMRT, 69 were eligible for long-term HRQOL assessment. Three validated patient-reported instruments, the Head and Neck QOL (HNQOL) questionnaire, the University of Washington quality of life (UWQOL) questionnaire, and the Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ), previously administered from baseline through 2 years in the parent studies, were readministered at long-term follow-up, along with the Short-Form 36. Long-term changes in HRQOL from before treatment and 2 years were evaluated. Results: Forty patients (58%) with a median follow-up of 6.5 years participated, 39 of whom (97.5%) had confirmed human papillomavirus–positive OPC. Long term, no clinically significant worsening was detected in mean HRQOL scores compared with 2 years, with stable or improved HRQOL from before treatment in nearly all domains. “Moderate” or greater severity problems were uncommon, reported by 5% of patients for eating, 5% for swallowing, and 2.5% and 5% by HNQOL and UWQOL summary scores, respectively. Freedom from percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube dependence and stricture dilation beyond 2 years was 97.5% and 95%, respectively. Eleven percent and 14% of patients reported “moderate” or “severe” long-term worsening in HNQOL Pain and Overall Bother domains, respectively, which were associated with mean dose to the cervical esophagus, larynx, and pharyngeal constrictors. Conclusions: At more than 6 years' median follow-up, OPC patients treated with swallowing and salivary organ-sparing chemo-IMRT reported stable or improved HRQOL in nearly all domains compared with both before treatment and 2-year follow-up. New late toxicity after 2 years was uncommon. Further emphasis on sparing the swallowing organs may yield additional HRQOL gains for long-term OPC survivors.

• OSTI ID: 22458665
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 91; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
ESOPHAGUS
HEAD
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LARYNX
NECK
NEOPLASMS
PAIN
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOTHERAPY
STANDARD OF LIVING
TOXICITY