7th ICHNO Abstract book

page 70 7 th ICHNO Conference International Conference on innovative approaches in Head and Neck Oncology 14 – 16 March 2019 Barcelona, Spain __________________________________________________________________________________________ 7th ICHNO

Patients were aged 64 (range 34–83) with mostly male sex (61.3%). Most represented tumor subsite was oropharynx (25.9%). Most common histology was SCC (77.4%). Patients were mainly staged as T1–T2 disease (58%); N0(19%), N1‐ 3(71%). RT was delivered as definitive (38.7%) or adjuvant (61.3%) treatment with prescribed doses ranging from 54 to 70 Gy. Induction CT was administered to 16% of patients, while concurrent CT to 61.3%. For detailed CiTAS score results see Tab.2 .

PO-133 Prospective assessment of dysgeusia during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer S. Martini 1 , G.C. Iorio 1 , E. Olimpio 1 , F. Arcadipane 2 , P. Franco 1 , U. Ricardi 1 1 University of Turin, Department of Oncology- Radiation Oncology, Torino, Italy; 2 Città della Salute e della Scienza, Department of Oncology- Radiation Oncology, Torino, Italy Purpose or Objective Dysgeusia (Dg) is a commonly observed side effect during the treatment of HN cancer patients, in case of either exclusive radiotherapy (RT) and combined modality treatment (CMT). Taste alterations and symptoms of discomfort are remarkably affecting the patient daily living and subsequently the compliance to treatment. We prospectively assessed taste alterations in a cohort of patients undergoing RT or CMT using chemotherapy (CT)‐ induced taste alteration scale (CiTAS), a scale based on 18‐items exploring 4 dimensions identified through factor analysis: decline in basic taste, discomfort, phantogeusia‐ parageusia, and general alterations. Material and Methods Between 2016 and 2018, 31 patients were treated with VMAT in the HN region within a definitive or adjuvant setting (RT or CMT, 6 or 7 week overall treatment time). All patients were given a spray containing ginger, anise and vitamin B6 (Naumix/Naugin, GAMfarma, Milan, Italy) as a prophylactic approach to prevent Dg. CiTAS scale was evaluated at baseline (Bs) and every week of treatment and during follow‐up at 2 adjunctive time‐points (1 week and 1 month after RT end). Results For detailed patients, tumor and treatment characteristics, see Tab.1 .

Mean Hypo‐Ageusia score was 1.14(±0.4) at Bs progressively increasing during RT and reaching the maximum values during the VII week at 2.82(±1.4) and decreasing after RT down to 2.13(±1.23) at I month from the end of treatment. The same could be observed for discomfort score which was 1.14(±0.47) at Bs, increased up to 1,74(±0.98) at week VII and decreased at 1.27(±0.45) at I month after treatment. The phantogeusia/parageusia score, which was 1.16(±0.60) at Bs, increased to 1.92(±1.08) at week VII and decreased to 1.36(±0.7) at week I after RT. A similar pattern was observed for general taste alterations score: 0.17(±0.43) at Bs, 2.35(±1.04) at week VII of RT and 1.73(±0.87) after I months from RT end. Treatment was generally well tolerated, no patient experienced nausea at Bs; ≥G2 nausea was observed in 13% of patients at III week, with an optimal recovery in most of the patients with antiemetic drugs. Conclusion Our prospective clinical data point out the multi‐ dimensional pattern of Dg and its trend during RT or CMT in HN cancer patients. Evaluation of CiTAS scale highlighted a progressive increase in all Dg dimensions with the highest peak at VII week of treatment and a partial recovery after the end of RT. We provided a