Multi-agent concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer in the elderly

Background The reported decreasing benefit with increasing age from concurrent chemoradiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients prompted this retrospective review. Methods Two courses of cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy were given to fit patients =70 years with locoregionally advanced cancers. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were compared with those for an identically treated cohort <70 years. Results There were 44 patients =70 and 137 patients <70 years. Clinical characteristics, treatment and toxicities were similar except that the elderly were less likely to receive both chemotherapy courses, experienced more myelosuppression, required more unplanned hospitalization, and were feeding-tube dependent longer. Projected 5-year disease-specific survival (71% vs 74%) and freedom from recurrence (69% v. 71%) were nearly identical. Conclusions Although these selected elderly patients experienced greater myelosuppression and supportive care requirements, outcomes were the same as in younger patients. Age alone should not be considered a contraindication to aggressive chemoradiotherapy for this disease. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012