Late follow-up of the randomized radiation and concomitant high-dose intra-arterial or intravenous cisplatin (RADPLAT) trial for advanced head and neck cancer.

Background: The radiation and concomitant high-dose intra-arterial or intravenous cisplatin (RADPLAT) phase III trial compared intra-arterial (IA) to intravenous (IV) cisplatin-based chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Long-term efficacy and toxicity are reported after a median follow-up of 7.5 years.

Prognostic molecular markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in a New Zealand population: matrix metalloproteinase-2 and sialyl Lewis x antigen.

Objective: The survival rate for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the lowest of the major cancers and has not substantially improved in the past two decades. Tumours with similar histological features may have widely differing clinical outcomes and thus identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers may be valuable for determining appropriate clinical management strategies. The objective of this study was to establish the prognostic significance of six molecular markers in HNSCC in a New Zealand population: matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, sialyl Lewis antigens a and x (sLe(a) , sLe(x) ) and alpha B-crystallin.

Five-year quality of life results of the randomized clinical phase III (RADPLAT) trial, comparing concomitant intra-arterial versus intravenous chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to present 5-years of quality-of-life (QOL) results of a multicenter randomized phase III trial, assessing intra-arterial (IA) versus standard intravenous (IV) chemoradiation for inoperable stage IV head and neck cancer.

Methods: Evaluation of 71 patients through European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core Module (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Head and Neck Module (QLQ-H&N35), and trial-specific questionnaires. Treatment consisted of standard radiotherapy with 4 weekly IA or 3 weekly IV cisplatin infusions.

Intra-arterial versus intravenous chemoradiation for advanced head and neck cancer: Results of a randomized phase 3 trial.

Background: Chemoradiation is the preferred treatment for advanced stage IV head and neck cancer. Higher doses of chemotherapy yielded promising results in vitro and vivo, confirmed by intra-arterial (IA) cisplatin-based chemoradiation in phase 2 studies.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with (functionally) unresectable head and neck cancer were included, from 2000 to 2004, in a multicenter, randomized phase 3 trial, comparing IA and intravenous chemoradiation.

First-year quality of life assessment of an intra-arterial (RADPLAT) versus intravenous chemoradiation phase III trial.

Background: We report the results of a multicenter randomized phase III study, assessing quality of life (QOL) in intra-arterial (IA) versus standard intravenous (IV) chemoradiation in advanced head and neck cancer.

Methods: Two hundred seven patients with inoperable stage IV disease-152 men and 55 women; mean age, 55 years-were included in this study. The patients were treated with standard radiotherapy with 4 weekly IA or 3 weekly IV cisplatin infusions.

Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy with the Provox voice prosthesis in South Africa.

A study was undertaken to determine whether the Provox voice prosthesis provides good voice rehabilitation following a total laryngectomy in the urban, suburban and rural populations served by a tertiary referral hospital in South Africa. Between 1995 and 1999, a cohort of 128 patients at Tygerberg Hospital was rehabilitated with the Provox voice prosthesis after laryngectomy. In 104 patients primary placement of the prosthesis was done at the time of the laryngectomy.