Superselective intra-arterial chemoradiation therapy for functional laryngeal preservation in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

CONCLUSION

Superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy is a safe and useful treatment that preserves the vocal, swallowing, and feeding functions of the larynx in T3 cancer supplied by the superior laryngeal artery and T4a cancer not extending beyond the thyroid cartilage.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcomes of superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx underwent treatment of the primary tumor using induction chemotherapy with two cycles of intra-arterial docetaxel and cisplatin, plus continuous intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil for 120 h starting on day 2; followed by two cycles of concurrent chemoradiation therapy. Residual neck lymph node metastases were treated by neck dissection.

RESULTS

The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 70.4% and 62.9%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 96.3% and 89.9%, respectively, in the 29 patients with T3 cancer, and 50.4% and 44.1%, respectively, in the 35 patients with T4a cancer. The overall 5- and 10-year laryngeal preservation rates were 71.0% and 60.6%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year laryngeal preservation rates were 92.5% and 87.4%, respectively, in patients with T3 cancer, and 48.6% and 35.6%, respectively in patients with T4a cancer. No irreversible adverse effects were reported.