Intensity-modulated radiotherapy followed by a brachytherapy boost for oropharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to reduce the incidence of radiation-induced toxicity in patients with early-stage oropharyngeal cancer, using highly conformal radiation techniques. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2011, 167 patients with T1-3N0-3 oropharyngeal cancer were treated with 46-Gy intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) followed by 22-Gy brachytherapy boost. In patients with node-positive disease, neck dissection was performed. RESULTS: The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of local control, regional control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were 94%, 97%, 84%, and 72%, respectively. Feeding tubes were required in 26% of the patients. Grade >/=2 late xerostomia and dysphagia were 11% and 8%, respectively. Chemotherapy, tumor subsite, and bilateral neck irradiation correlate significantly with toxicity. Quality of life (QOL) scores deteriorate during and shortly after treatment but returned in all scales to baseline scores within 6 to 12 months, with the exception of xerostomia. CONCLUSION: Brachytherapy boost and neck dissection (in node-positive oropharyngeal cancer) after 46-Gy of IMRT resulted in excellent outcomes with low incidence of late toxicity and good QOL scores.