Advances in Radiation Oncology (Jul 2016)

Neutron radiation therapy for advanced thyroid cancers

  • Tobias R. Chapman, MD,
  • George E. Laramore, PhD, MD,
  • Stephen R. Bowen, PhD,
  • Peter F. Orio III DO, MS

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adro.2016.05.001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 3
pp. 148 – 156

Abstract

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to review institutional outcomes for advanced thyroid cancers treated with fast neutron radiation therapy (FNRT) and photon radiation therapy (RT). Methods and materials: In all, 62 consecutive patients were analyzed. Fifty-nine had stage IV disease. Twenty-three were treated with FNRT and 39 with photon RT. Median follow-up was 14 months. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: There was no significant difference in median OS between FNRT and photon RT (26 vs 16 months; P = .49). Patients with well-differentiated histologies had superior median OS with photon RT (17 vs 69 months; P = .04). There was a nonsignificant trend toward improved OS with FNRT for medullary and anaplastic histologies. Conclusions: Outcomes in this study are in line with historical results. There is an apparent detriment in OS with FNRT for well-differentiated histologies and a trend toward improved OS with medullary and anaplastic histologies that warrants further investigation.