Comparison and Assessment of Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma in Younger and Older Patients Treated with Chemo Radiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the 6th most common cancer globally. Unfortunately, even though more than 25% of cancers are diagnosed in people over 60 years, they are often less extensively investigated and undertreated than younger patient and seldom included in clinical trials. The study aimed to compare the profile of younger and elderly patients in terms of compliance, toxicities, and clinical outcomes in head and neck cancers treated with chemo-radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients were included in the study and patients were distributed in two groups, age ≤ 60 years of age and >60 years of age, and were planned to deliver standard radiotherapy at a dose of 70 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks with concurrent chemotherapy dose Cisplatin 35 mg/ m2 weekly followed by compliance assessment from 3 months of follow up to at least up to 6 months. Result: In the present study, it was observed that radiotherapy compliance was similar in the elderly group as in younger group. Our study also observed that though chemotherapy compliance in terms of number of the cycle was lower in elderly patients than younger patients due to increase hematological toxicities, they were of grade I/II toxicity. No significant difference in severe Grade III/IV toxicity was observed in elderly group in comparison to the younger group. Conclusion: The present study suggests that elderly patients should get a complete radical course of concurrent chemo radiotherapy as in younger patients with good supportive care to overcome treatment-related toxicities.