Factors associated with weight loss during radiotherapy in patients with stage I or II head and neck cancer.

Background: The purpose of the study was to identify factors associated with weight loss during radiotherapy (RT) in patients with stage I or II head and neck (HN) cancer.

Methods: This study was conducted as part of a phase III chemoprevention trial. A total of 540 patients were randomized.

Predictors of weight loss during radiotherapy in patients with stage I or II head and neck cancer.

Background: The purpose of the study was to identify predictors of weight loss during radiotherapy (RT) in patients with stage I or II head and neck (HN) cancer.

Methods: This study was conducted as part of a phase 3 chemoprevention trial. A total of 540 patients were randomized.

Health-related quality of life as a survival predictor for patients with localized head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy.

Purpose: To assess the added prognostic value for overall survival (OS) of baseline health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and of early changes in HRQOL among patients with localized head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiation therapy.

Patients And Methods: All 540 patients with HNC who participated in a randomized trial completed two HRQOL instruments before radiation therapy: the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Head and Neck Radiotherapy Questionnaire. Six months after the end of radiation therapy, 497 trial participants again completed the two HRQOL instruments.

Treatment results of carcinoma in situ of the glottic larynx: 61 patients treated with radiotherapy.

Objectives: To review the Notre-Dame Hospital experience in the treatment of carcinoma in situ of the glottis by radiotherapy and to evaluate the different factors affecting local control and survival.

Methods: Between January 1990 and June 2002, 61 patients presenting with carcinoma in situ of the glottis were treated with curative intent radiotherapy. No patients received either surgery or chemotherapy in the initial treatment of their cancer.

Phase 2 study of silver leaf dressing for treatment of radiation-induced dermatitis in patients receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck.

Objective: The use of silver leaf dressing is common in the treatment of burn victims owing to its capacity to improve healing and inherent antimicrobial properties. The goal of this study was to investigate its effectiveness in the treatment of radiation-induced dermatitis in a patient population receiving radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy for various carcinomas of the head and neck compared with our current standard of care, silver sulfadiazine (Flamazine).

Methods: Twelve patients presenting with cancers of the head and neck region with Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grade 2 or more skin toxicity were offered topical treatment of silver sulfadiazine and silver leaf dressing.

Prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression in glottic cancer.

Purpose: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression has been associated with a poor prognosis in many cancers. However, the role of COX-2 overexpression in head and neck cancers remains undetermined. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether COX-2 is a prognostic factor in glottic cancer.

Interaction between antioxidant vitamin supplementation and cigarette smoking during radiation therapy in relation to long-term effects on recurrence and mortality: a randomized trial among head and neck cancer patients.

There has been concern that the efficacy of radiation therapy may be reduced when patients smoke or take antioxidant vitamins during treatment. Cancer prevention trials with beta carotene supplements documented adverse effects only among smokers. We conducted a randomized trial with alpha tocopherol (400 IU/day) and beta carotene (30 mg/day) supplements among 540 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated by radiation therapy.

Acute adverse effects of radiation therapy and local recurrence in relation to dietary and plasma beta carotene and alpha tocopherol in head and neck cancer patients.

There is a debate concerning the effects of antioxidant vitamins during radiation therapy: Can they reduce the adverse effects of therapy without reducing treatment efficacy? We examined whether dietary and plasma beta carotene and alpha tocopherol were related to severe acute adverse effects of radiation therapy and to cancer local recurrence. We conducted a prospective study of 540 head and neck cancer patients treated by radiation therapy. Dietary intakes of beta carotene and alpha tocopherol were measured by a validated food frequency questionnaire and plasma levels were determined.

Primary radiotherapy for tonsillar carcinoma: a good alternative to a surgical approach.

Objectives: To review the Notre-Dame hospital experience in the treatment of tonsillar carcinoma with primary radiotherapy and to evaluate the different factors affecting locoregional control (LRC) and survival.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 164 patients treated consecutively for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region between January 1990 and June 1999. Our study included 22 T1, 75 T2, 54 T3, and 12 T4 lesions; according to N stage, there were 48 N0, 50 N1, 51 N2, and 15 N3 disease.

Role of neck dissection following concurrent chemoradiation for advanced head and neck carcinoma.

Background: Our primary objective was to determine the role of neck dissection following concomitant chemoradiation (CRT) for advanced stage III-IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: One hundred eighty-four patients with HNSCC treated with CRT were included. One hundred twenty-three patients reached a regional complete response (CR) after CRT and no neck dissection was performed.

Antioxidant vitamins supplementation and mortality: a randomized trial in head and neck cancer patients.

There has been concern that long-term supplementation with high-dose antioxidant vitamins, especially vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), may increase all-cause mortality. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with alpha-tocopherol (400 IU/day) and beta-carotene (30 mg/day) supplements among 540 head and neck cancer patients treated by radiation therapy. Supplementation with beta-carotene was discontinued during the trial.

Retromolar trigone carcinoma treated by primary radiation therapy: an alternative to the primary surgical approach.

Objectives: To review our experience in the treatment of retromolar trigone carcinoma with radiotherapy as the primary modality and to evaluate the different factors affecting locoregional control and survival.

Design: We retrospectively examined 46 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar trigone treated primarily with radiotherapy from January 1, 1973, to June 31, 2002. Four had T1, 21 had T2, 17 had T3, and 4 had T4 lesions; 25 had N0, 15 had N1, 5 had N2, and 1 had N3 disease.

A randomized trial of antioxidant vitamins to prevent second primary cancers in head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Although low dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins and minerals have been associated with higher risks of cancer, results of trials testing antioxidant supplementation for cancer chemoprevention have been equivocal. We assessed whether supplementation with antioxidant vitamins could reduce the incidence of second primary cancers among patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized chemoprevention trial among 540 patients with stage I or II head and neck cancer treated by radiation therapy between October 1, 1994, and June 6, 2000.