The effect of treatment delay on quality of life and overall survival in head and neck cancer patients.

Objective: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are rapidly developing tumours, and substantial delay in treatment initiation is associated with decreased overall survival. The effect of delay on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of delay on QOL and overall survival.

Impact of sarcopenia on acute radiation-induced toxicity in head and neck cancer patients.

Background And Purpose: Sarcopenia is related to late radiation-induced toxicities and worse survival in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. This study tested the hypothesis that sarcopenia improves the performance of current normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models of radiation-induced acute toxicity in HNC patients.

Material/methods: This was a retrospective analysis in a prospective cohort of HNC patients treated from January 2007 to December 2018 with (chemo)radiotherapy.

Evaluation of robustly optimised intensity modulated proton therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric changes occurring over the treatment course for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with robustly optimised intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

Materials And Methods: 25 NPC patients were treated to two dose levels (CTV1: 70 Gy, CTV2: 54.25 Gy) with robustly optimised IMPT plans.

A two-stage genome-wide association study of radiation-induced acute toxicity in head and neck cancer.

Background: Most head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receive radiotherapy (RT) and develop toxicities. This genome-wide association study (GWAS) was designed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with common acute radiation-induced toxicities (RITs) in an HNC cohort.

Methods: A two-stage GWAS was performed in 1279 HNC patients treated with RT and prospectively scored for mucositis, xerostomia, sticky saliva, and dysphagia.

Relationship between videofluoroscopic and subjective (physician- and patient- rated) assessment of late swallowing dysfunction after (chemo) radiation: Results of a prospective observational study.

Background And Purpose: Primary (chemo)radiation (CHRT) for HNC may lead to late dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of swallowing disorders based on prospectively collected objective videofluoroscopic (VF) assessment and to assess the correlations between VF findings and subjective (physician- and patient-rated) swallowing measures.

Material And Methods: 189 consecutive HNC patients receiving (CH)RT were included.

Parotid Gland Stem Cell Sparing Radiation Therapy for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer frequently leads to salivary gland damage and subsequent xerostomia. The radiation response of the parotid glands of rats, mice, and patients critically depends on dose to parotid gland stem cells, mainly located in the gland's main ducts (stem cell rich [SCR] region). Therefore, this double-blind randomized controlled trial aimed to test the hypothesis that parotid gland stem cell sparing radiation therapy preserves parotid gland function better than currently used whole parotid gland sparing radiation therapy.

Patient-Reported Toxicity and Quality-of-Life Profiles in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Definitive Radiation Therapy or Chemoradiation.

Purpose: Radiation therapy is an effective but burdensome treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC). We aimed to characterize the severity and time pattern of patient-reported symptoms and quality of life in a large cohort of patients with HNC treated with definitive radiation therapy, with or without systemic treatment.

Methods And Materials: A total of 859 patients with HNC treated between 2007 and 2017 prospectively completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck Cancer module (QLQ-HN35) and Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) at regular intervals during and after treatment for up to 5 years.

Risk of ischaemic cerebrovascular events in head and neck cancer patients is associated with carotid artery radiation dose.

Background And Purpose: Radiotherapy in the head and neck area may cause vascular damage to the carotid arteries, increasing the risk of anterior circulation ischaemic cerebrovascular events (ICVEs). However, limited data exists on the relationship between radiation dose to the carotid arteries and risk of ICVE. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the relationship between radiation dose to the carotid arteries and anterior circulation ICVE risk.

Comprehensive toxicity risk profiling in radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: A new concept for individually optimised treatment.

Background And Purpose: A comprehensive individual toxicity risk profile is needed to improve radiation treatment optimisation, minimising toxicity burden, in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. We aimed to develop and externally validate NTCP models for various toxicities at multiple time points.

Materials And Methods: Using logistic regression, we determined the relationship between normal tissue irradiation and the risk of 22 toxicities at ten time points during and after treatment in 750 HNC patients.

First experience with model-based selection of head and neck cancer patients for proton therapy.

Purpose: In the Netherlands, head and neck cancer (HNC) patients qualify for intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) based on model-based selection (MBS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the first experience in MBS of HNC patients.

Methods: Patients who were subjected to MBS (Jan 2018-Sep 2019) were evaluated.

Impact of sarcopenia on survival and late toxicity in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Sarcopenia is emerging as an adverse prognostic factor for survival and complication risk in cancer patients. This study aims to determine the impact of sarcopenia on survival and late toxicity in a large cohort of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients treated with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy ((C)RT).

Materials And Methods: HNSCC patients treated with definitive (C)RT from January 2007 to June 2016 were included.

Does multidisciplinary videoconferencing between a head-and-neck cancer centre and its partner hospital add value to their patient care and decision-making? A mixed-method evaluation.

Objectives: Given the difficulties in diagnosing and treating head-and-neck cancer, care is centralised in the Netherlands in eight head-and-neck cancer centres and six satellite regional hospitals as preferred partners. A requirement is that all patients of the partner should be discussed in a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) with the head-and-neck centre as part of a Dutch health policy rule. In this mixed-method study, we evaluate the value that the video-conferenced MDT adds to the MDTs in the care pathway, quantitative regarding recommendations given and qualitative in terms of benefits for the teams and the patient.