Selective cytoprotection with amifostine in concurrent radiochemotherapy for head and neck cancer

Background: Amifostine has reduced toxicities associated with radiationtherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. In a phase II randomized trial, weinvestigated the ability of amifostine to reduce the toxicity of carboplatinplus radiotherapy (RCT) in patients with head and neck cancer.Patients and methods: Thirty-nine patients with stage III or IV squamouscell carcinomas of the head and neck received RCT (following surgery or asprimary treatment). Radiotherapy was given five days per week with dailyfractions of 2 Gy, up to a total dose of 60 Gy in conjunction withcarboplatin 70 mg/m² on days 1 through 5 and days 21 through26. Eligible patients were randomised to receive RCT alone or preceded by arapid infusion of amifostine (500 mg) on the days when carboplatin wasadministered.Results: Patients receiving amifostine + RCT (n = 25) had significantlyreduced mucositis (P = 0.0001) and xerostomia (P = 0.0001) in comparisonwith patients receiving RCT alone (n = 14). Additionally, patients receivingamifostine + RCT had significantly less thrombocytopenia (P = 0.001) andleukopenia (P = 0.001). At 12 months following therapy, 79% ofpatients receiving amifostine + RCT had no evidence of disease compared with64% of those receiving RCT alone.Conclusions: Amifostine reduces the RCT-induced toxicities in patients withhead and neck cancer and has no negative impact on antitumour efficacy.     

Serious adverse effects of amifostine during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients

Background and purpose: Amifostine has been shown to protect against xerostomia induced by radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, but its impact on the therapeutic index is unknown. This is the first report focusing on amifostine related adverse effects leading to discontinuation of amifostine treatment.

Patients and methods: Thirty-nine patients from two centers irradiated for head and neck cancer received i.v.-infusions of amifostine prior to each radiation fraction. In a phase III study, two daily amifostine doses, 200 mg/m² (n=21) and 340 mg/m² (n=18), were compared for protection against radiation induced toxicity. Total radiation dose was 60–70 Gy (2 Gy per fraction), nine patients received concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin/5-FU. amifostine was usually discontinued after >1 episode of serious toxicity during subsequent treatment sessions.

Results: In 16/39 patients (41%) amifostine was discontinued due to severe adverse effects, which led to discontinuation of the phase III study. In four of 16 patients radiotherapy was delayed due to amifostine related adverse effects for 1–3 days. Discontinuation occurred more often in patients receiving chemotherapy. The results led to a literature review for amifostine treatment during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. Regarding our series and published series using an amifostine schedule comparable to ours, total discontinuation rate was 27% (57/214). Discontinuation was significantly influenced by chemotherapy (P=0.007), but not by amifostine dose (P=0.156).

Conclusion: Daily i.v. administration of amifostine during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer is associated with a high rate of serious adverse effects leading to discontinuation of amifostine treatment and sometimes delay of radiotherapy.     

老年头颈恶性肿瘤患者放疗前后心理痛苦状态分析

目的:评估≥60岁老年头颈部恶性肿瘤患者调强放疗(IMRT)前后的心理痛苦情况。方法:采用心理痛苦温度计对85例老年头颈部恶性肿瘤患者进行IMRT前、后心理痛苦程度和痛苦问题前瞻性调查。IMRT前后比较采用配对 t检验,采用 Logistic回归模型分析相关因素。 结果:全组中位年龄为...     

Umami taste dysfunction in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Taste loss is a major cause of morbidity in patients undergoing head and neck irradiation. Previous studies have reported the alteration of the four basic tastes in patients with head and neck cancer during radiotherapy. However, only a few studies have been conducted on the effects of irradiation on the function of umami taste, a novel and basic taste recently recognized. In a prospective study, 52 patients undergoing radical head and neck irradiation were assessed for taste loss. Taste ability was measured by the taste threshold for umami quality using the whole-mouth taste method in patients before, during, and immediately after radiotherapy. Umami taste declined of the 3rd week after the start of radiotherapy and improved of the 8th week.     

Oral complications of radiotherapy in head and neck cancer

Radiotherapy in the head and neck region constitutes a major therapeutic challenge. Tumors and elective nodal areas are often in close proximity to radiosensitive normal tissues, a factor which often limits the success of radiotherapy. Acute radiation-induced adverse effects such as mucositis and skin reactions occur during the course of treatment. They are generally reversible and patients normally recover from these adverse effects within 3 months. Late radiation reactions such as fibrosis and osteoradionecrosis occur more than 3 months after treatment. Such reactions are characterized by their gradual progression. Xerostomia is the single most important factor leading to chronic loss of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. Oral complications can be prevented or modified by altered fractionation, by reducing the irradiated volume, or by pharmacologic intervention. Altered fractionation in the form of acceleration or hyperfractionation has improved the therapeutic ratio in several large clinical studies and a recent meta-analysis. Reducing the high-dose volume, and especially avoiding irradiating sensitive structures, is the basis for the increasing use of conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Such techniques may eventually allow dose escalation in tumor areas leading to increased local tumor control while keeping morbidity at an acceptable level. Numerous pharmacologic agents have been evaluated for the prevention and management of both acute and late complications. The only agent with documented radioprotective activity is amifostine, which can reduce late xerostomia. However, it is still unclear whether amifostine also protects tumor cells. Pilocarpine may relieve late xerostomia in some patients with remaining functional salivary gland reserve. Apart from this limited Indication, pharmacologic agents against oral complications should not be used outside of clinical trials.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗者营养与支持治疗专家共识

放疗是头颈部肿瘤最常用的治疗手段。恶性肿瘤本身代谢异常及治疗过程中伴随的急性和晚期毒性等极易导致患者发生营养不良,其发生率高达44%~88%,其中重度营养不良的发生率为20%~40%。患者一旦发生营养不良,其治疗耐受性和敏感性会降低,治疗并发症会进一步增高,从而延长住院时间增加治疗费用,最终影响患者疗效。因此,营养与支持治疗是头颈肿瘤患者治疗的重要组成部分。为了使这部分患者得到合理、有效的营养与支持治疗,根据我国目前的肿瘤放疗和肿瘤营养治疗现状,参考国内外相关指南,制定适合我国情况的头颈部肿瘤放疗患者营养与支持治疗专家共识非常必要。     

The use of radiologically placed gastrostomy tubes in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy

: Patients undergoing radiotherapy to the head and neck area frequently experience radiation reactions that can markedly restrict oral intake, require hospitalization, and occasionally cause treatment interruptions. The Vancouver Cancer Center (VCC) has recently employed radiologically placed gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) in the management of this problem. A review of the patients on whom its procedure had been performed is the subject of this review.

: Thirty-four patients had gastrostomy tubes inserted under radiologic guidance. This group is compared to a control group matched for age, sex, irradiated volume, and radiation dose, who did not have gastrostomy tubes. Patients with gastrostomy tubes were divided into two categories: (a) patients who had tubes inserted in anticipation of severe reactions, and (b) patients who developed severe radiation reactions necessitating nutritional support.

: The gastrostomy group consisted of 65% males with an average age of 59 years and stage range of II (12%), III (24%), and IV (65%). In both the elective group and the nonelective group, patients maintained their weight at 95 to 97% of the pretreatment weight, at follow-up of 6 weeks and 3 months. This compared with an average weight loss in the control group of 9% at 6 weeks and 12% at 3 months. The length of hospitalization was a mean of 4.9 days in the elective group and 19 days in the nonelective group. Complication were low compared to those documented in the literature, but included two tube migrations, two aspirations, and one gastrointestinal bleed.

: We believe that gastrostomy tubes contribute significantly to the management of patients with lead and neck cancer, particularly in maintenance of nutrition, and they may decrease the need for hospitalization.     

Oral mucositis and selective elimination of oral flora in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy: a double-blind randomised clinical trial

Mucositis is an acute inflammation of the oral mucosa because of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. All patients receiving radiotherapy in the head and neck region develop oral mucositis. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of selective oral flora elimination on radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis, in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Sixty-five patients with a malignant tumour in the head and neck regions to be treated with primary curative or postoperative radiotherapy participated in this study. The patients received either the active lozenges of 1 g containing polymyxin E 2 mg, tobramycin 1.8 mg and amphotericin B 10 mg (PTA) (33 patients) or the placebo lozenges (32 patients), four times daily during the full course of radiotherapy. Mucositis, changes in the oral flora, quality of feeding and changes of total body weight were assessed. Mucositis score did not differ between the groups during the first 5 weeks of radiotherapy. Nasogastric tube feeding was needed in six patients (19%) of the placebo group and two patients (6%) of the PTA group (P=0.08). Mean weight loss after 5 weeks of radiation was less in the PTA group (1.3 kg) (s.d.: 3.0) than in the placebo group (2.8 kg) (s.d.: 2.9) (P=0.05). Colonisation index of Candida species and Gram-negative bacilli was reduced in the PTA group and not in the placebo group (P<0.05). No effect on other microorganisms was detected. In conclusion, selective oral flora elimination in head and neck irradiation patients does not prevent the development of severe mucositis.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.