A Prospective Study to Evaluate Tumour Response and Quality of Life with QUAD Shot Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i4.3078Keywords:
Head and Neck Cancer, QUAD Shot, Palliative Radiotherapy, Quality of Life, Hypofractionation, Tumour Response.Abstract
Background: Locally advanced or metastatic patients with head and neck cancer may have a heavy symptom burden and poor performance status, rendering these patients unsuitable to be treated curatively. Palliative radiotherapy is indispensable in a reduction in symptoms and quality of life (QoL). A solution to this scenario is the QUAD shot regimen, a hypofractionated cyclical radiotherapy program utilized in this scenario which has proved to be a convenient and effective treatment option. Purpose: The aim is to prospectively study tumour response, symptom relief, and quality of life of patients with advanced head and neck cancer who receive QUAD shot radiotherapy. Methods: It was a prospective, single-arm study in a tertiary care facility with 52 patients known to have histologically-proven locally advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer and who were not fit to receive curative care. Radiotherapy QUAD Shots Patients were given 14.8 Gy in four fractions given over two continuous days repeated every 3-4 weeks up to three cycles. RECIST criteria were used to measure the tumour response. They were clinically symptom relief, and QoL with EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35. The toxicity was graded using CTECAE version 5.0. Results: Among the 48 patients with whom it was possible to make an assessment, 62.5 was the total response rate (complete response and partial response). They were found to have considerably improved their symptoms, particularly on pain, dysphagia and bleeding. The statistical significance was present between the quality of life with the global health status, functional scales and symptom domains (p < 0.05). No severe adverse events and the majority of the adverse events Grade 1-2 with minimal Grade 3 toxicities. No Grade 4 toxicities or Death due to treatment. Conclusion: QUAD shot radiotherapy is a safe, effective and well-tolerated palliative therapy in patients of head and neck cancer with advanced cancer. It provides valuable tumour response, high symptom relief and a considerable quality of life gain at a low toxicity.
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