BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is often the primary treatment for advanced @entity135 , but the rates of locoregional recurrence are high and survival is poor. We investigated whether hyperfractionated @entity7841 plus concurrent chemotherapy (combined treatment) is superior to hyperfractionated @entity7841 alone. METHODS: @entity1 with advanced @entity135 who were treated only with hyperfractionated @entity7841 received 125 cGy twice daily, for a total of 7500 cGy. @entity1 in the combined-treatment group received 125 cGy twice daily, for a total of 7000 cGy, and five days of treatment with 12 mg of @entity900 per square meter of body-surface area per day and 600 mg of @entity1487 per square meter per day during weeks 1 and 6 of @entity7841 . Two cycles of @entity900 and @entity1487 were given to most @entity1 after the completion of radiotherapy. RESULTS: Of 122 @entity1 who underwent randomization, 116 were included in the analysis. Most @entity1 in both treatment groups had unresectable disease. The median follow-up was 41 months (range, 19 to 86). At three years the rate of overall survival was 55 percent in the combined-therapy group and 34 percent in the hyperfractionation group (P=0.07). The relapse-free survival rate was higher in the combined-treatment group (61 percent vs. 41 percent, P=0.08). The rate of locoregional control of disease at three years was 70 percent in the combined-treatment group and 44 percent in the hyperfractionation group (P=0.01). Confluent @entity33 developed in 77 percent and 75 percent of the two groups, respectively. Severe complications occurred in three @entity1 in the hyperfractionation group and five @entity1 in the combined-treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment for advanced @entity135 is more efficacious and not more toxic than hyperfractionated @entity7841 alone.

Hyperfractionated @entity7841 with or without concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity135 :: ('MESH:D006258', 'Disease') :: ['head and neck cancer'] @entity7841 :: ('MESH:D012793', 'Disease') :: ['irradiation'] @entity900 :: ('MESH:D002945', 'Chemical') :: ['cisplatin'] @entity33 :: ('MESH:D052016', 'Disease') :: ['mucositis'] @entity1487 :: ('MESH:D005472', 'Chemical') :: ['fluorouracil']
@entity135 :: (MESH:D006258,Disease) :: ['head and neck cancer']
