A New Gold Standard in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
Exciting news for head and neck cancer patients! Results from the Phase III Dysphagia-Aspiration Related Structures (DARS) trial suggest a "new gold standard" in treating these patients. The trial compared a precision radiotherapy technique called dysphagia-optimized intensity-modulated radiotherapy (DO-IMRT) with standard IMRT.
DO-IMRT is designed to lower the risk of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), a common side effect of radiotherapy. The study involved 112 participants with oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, comparing standard IMRT to DO-IMRT over six weeks. The key findings, published in The Lancet Oncology, revealed:
After two years, patients treated with DO-IMRT reported better swallowing function than those with standard IMRT.
After a year, 62% of DO-IMRT patients could eat a high-normal diet, and 85% felt comfortable eating in public, compared to 45% and 75% for standard IMRT.
Survival rates after three years were similar for both approaches.
One patient, Ian McAllister, shared his positive experience with tailored radiotherapy, avoiding the need for a feeding tube. He emphasized the importance of personalized treatment in minimizing side effects.
Professor Chris Nutting, lead researcher, hailed these results as a "new gold standard," demonstrating that targeted radiotherapy can spare swallowing muscles without compromising treatment success. The approach involves additional planning based on tumor size and position, delivering more precise radiation beams to protect the throat.
Professor Justin Roe, a speech and language therapist, highlighted the impact of dysphagia on patients' lives and expressed hope that more individuals will benefit from this tailored radiotherapy.
Professor Emma Hall from The Institute of Cancer Research emphasized the importance of maintaining normal eating and drinking after treatment, while Martin Ledwick of Cancer Research UK praised the promising results for improving the quality of life for head and neck cancer patients.
This advanced radiotherapy technique, DO-IMRT, offers hope for a kinder and more effective treatment for head and neck cancer patients, potentially revolutionizing their post-treatment experiences. Read more here at this link.
