ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S1300

Clinical - Head & neck

ESTRO 2024

1 Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 2 Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 3 National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University,, School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Purpose/Objective:

The current study aims to evaluate the potential impact of modern radiotherapy (RT) techniques for patients with head and neck cancer in quality of life (QoL) with a longitudinal analysis.

Material/Methods:

In this single-center prospective study, participants were asked to fill out QoL questionnaires that include contents of EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N 35 and utility score by time trade off (TTO) at three time points (2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months) after completion of RT. All patients treated by modern techniques (Volumetric modulated arc therapy, VMAT or helical tomotherapy, HT). Patients who developed recurrence or died before 6 month follow up were excluded.

Results:

From 2022 to 2023, a total of 45 patients were recruited. For those who completed surveys at 2 weeks with at least 1 time follow-up (30, 67%) were enrolled for final analysis. The majority in 30 patients were men (76.7%), oral cancer (40%), stage III or IV (60%), received surgical intervention (63%) and treated by chemoradiation (80%). A total dose of 66 to 70 Gy was delivered to 23 (76.7%) patients, half of them treated by HT. Patients received chemotherapy had significant lower scores in global QoL (mean difference, 27.94; 95% CI, 9.33-46.55). Global QOL, physical function, symptoms of sticky saliva, cough, feeling of illness and weight loss were improved significantly between the 2 weeks to 3 months, respectively. There was no significance between 3 to 6 months. Interestingly, improvement of social function, social contact, pain and nutrition reached significance at 6 months. Subgroup analysis showed greater relief of pain over time for those who applied HT (p=0.030). Moreover, decrease in nausea and vomiting events were more apparent in patients who joined swallowing rehabilitation programs (p=0.036).