Results of chemoselection with short induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation or surgery in the treatment of functionally inoperable carcinomas of the pharynx and larynx

SummaryObjectivesChemoradiation is the treatment of choice for carcinomas of the pharynx and larynx with imminent loss of organ or function. However, the prognosis after CRT decreases when salvage surgery becomes necessary. Single-cycle induction chemotherapy is therefore performed to identify patients who would benefit more from S than from CRT. The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach.Materials and methodsForty-seven patients received Induction Chemotherapy (IC) with docetaxel plus cisplatin or carboplatin and were subsequently assessed for tumor response. Responders achieving a ⩾30% decrease in endoscopic tumor size and a ⩾20% decrease in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake proceeded to primary Chemoradiation (CRT) and non-responders received surgery (S). Six weeks after CRT patients with residual tumors underwent secondary surgery (S).ResultsThirty eight patients were elected for CRT and 9 received S. A local control rate of 86.1% and disease-free survival of 80.4% was achieved at 2 years. Overall treatment time in CRT-patients  > 80 days was associated with inferior disease-free survival (p = 0.05), cause-specific survival (p = 0.02), overall survival (p = 0.01) and a trend to inferior local control (p = 0.07) at 2 years.ConclusionThe strategy of selecting patients for CRT vs. S based on the response to IC achieves encouraging rates of disease control by surgery and CRT.