BACKGROUND: Accelerated radiotherapy (RT) represents a promising method with which to improve the treatment outcome in @entity1 with @entity135 . However, its applicability to elderly @entity1 has not been well established. This study assessed treatment @entity137 , @entity1 compliance, and oncologic results in @entity1 age >/= 70 years who were treated with an accelerated concomitant boost RT schedule. METHODS: Between 1991 and 1997, 39 @entity1 aged >/= 70 years (mean, 75 +/- 6 years) presenting with @entity189 of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx were treated radically with a modified concomitant boost RT schedule (planned dose of 69.9 grays [Gy] over 38 days). Based on American Joint Committee on @entity5 staging, there were 14 @entity1 with @entity34 and 25 @entity1 with @entity5 . Eighty-one @entity1 age < 70 years who were treated with the same RT schedule served as a comparative group. The median follow-up for the surviving @entity1 was 19 months (range, 3-65 months) and 23 months (range, 2-76 months), respectively, for the elderly and younger @entity1 groups. RESULTS: The planned RT schedule was completed in all cases. Three @entity1 (8%) in the elderly group and none in the younger group had an unplanned treatment interruption because of acute @entity137 or lack of compliance (P = 0.03). The median @entity5 dose (69.9 Gy; range, 67-73 Gy) and the median overall treatment time (41 days; range, 36-60 days) were identical in both groups. According to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grading system, Grade 3-4 acute reactions were observed in 66% of elderly @entity1 and in 71% of younger @entity1 . Ten elderly @entity1 (26%) and 19 younger @entity1 (23%) required a nasogastric tube or a percutaneous gastrostomy for feeding, with a median weight loss of 4.1 kg and 4.4 kg, respectively, in the 2 groups. Grade 3-4 late complications were observed in 3% of the elderly @entity1 and 10% of the younger @entity1 (P = 0.43). Both elderly and younger @entity1 had similar results with regard to 3-year actuarial overall survival (68% vs. 62%; P = 0.48) and locoregional control (73% vs. 68%; P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that an accelerated concomitant boost RT schedule is feasible in elderly @entity1 who are physically healthy enough to undergo curative treatment. The acute and late @entity137 appear to be similar to those observed in younger @entity1 , and treatment outcomes appear to be comparable.

Feasibility and early results of accelerated radiotherapy for XXXX in the elderly.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity135 :: ('MESH:D006258', 'Disease') :: ['head and neck carcinoma'] @entity137 :: ('MESH:D064420', 'Disease') :: ['toxicity', 'toxicities'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['Stage III-IV disease', 'tumor', 'Cancer'] @entity189 :: ('MESH:D002277', 'Disease') :: ['carcinomas'] @entity34 :: ('MESH:D016609', 'Disease') :: ['Stage I-II disease']
@entity135 :: (MESH:D006258,Disease) :: ['head and neck carcinoma']
