A Comparative Study of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Versus Conventional Radiotherapy in Early Glottic Cancer T1-2n0m0

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a leading health problem in India with approximately 1.1 million cases occurring each year. Cancer of the Larynx represents about 1% of the total cancer burden and accounts for 0.3% of all cancer deaths. Glottic tumors typically metastasize after they have directly invaded adjacent structures with better drainage. Glottic cancer has a high rate of cure and regardless of the modality used. Radiotherapy is generally the favoured treatment in most centers despite comparable cure rates for selected T1 and T2 glottis tumors. The present study was conducted to compare radiation induced acute and late treatment related toxicities of hypo-fractionated radiotherapy and conventional radiotherapy in early glottic cancer T1-2N0M0”. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment and Research Institute, Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner. It was done on 50 histologically proven new cases of early glottic cancer with age <70 years. Patients were treated by radiotherapy and randomized into either of the two arms Arm A (Study) and Arm B (Control). On ARM A Hypo-fractionated radiotherapy 55Gy/20# in 2.75Gy/# in 4 weeks and on ARM B Conventional radiotherapy 66Gy/33# in 2Gy/#6.5 weeks was given. Voice quality and toxicities were graded at the end of treatment, after 1, 2, 3 and 6 months. Data was analyzed using percentage, mean, chi square test and p-value. Results: Majority of the patients were in their 6th decade of life and all patients were male. Majority of the population had ECOG Performance Score of 1. 46 (92%) of patients presented with hoarseness alone while 4 (8%) of them presented with hoarseness and dysphagia, which were comparable in both the groups. Histologically, patients had Squamous Cell carcinoma (SCC). In study vs control arm where 11 (44%) vs 5 (20%) patients were T1A, 9 (36%) vs 5 (20%) in T1B, 4 (20%) vs 10 (40%) in T2A and 1 (4%) vs 5 (20%) in T2B respectively. In the study arm 25 (100%) patients received 58.4 Gy (2GyEq) whereas in control population 15 (60%) received 66 Gy and the rest 10 (40%) received 64 Gy. All 25 (100%) patients in both arms completed treatment. At the end of treatment, only 3 (12%) patients in study arm and 5 (20%) in control arm had normal voice. At 1st month of follow up, 7 (28%) vs 9 (36%) patients, at 3rd month of follow up, 13 (52%) vs 15 (60%) patients and at 6th month follow up, 21 (84%) vs 22 (88%) patients in study and control arm respectively had normal voice. (X2 = 1.026, p value = 0.599). As compared, at the end of the treatment, at 1st, 3rd and 6th months follow up, grades of skin reactions, mucositis and dysphagia reduced from 2 to 1 and later 1 to 0. Conclusions: Hypo-fractionated radiotherapy is a safe modality of treatment with high local control rates, acceptable long term toxicities, favorable voice outcomes and symptomatic relief with added advantage of shorter treatment time which offers better patient compliance

Keywords

• hypo-fractionated radiotherapy, conventional radiotherapy, glottic cancer