The EORTC randomized trial on three fractions per day and XXXX (trial no. 22811) in advanced head and neck cancer: long-term results and side effects.

@entity1 @entity33 @entity8712
From 1981 to 1984, a randomized study was done by the EORTC Radiotherapy Group comparing a fractionation schedule with three fractions per day (multiple fractions per day, MFD), with or without @entity8712 , to conventional fractionation. The aim of the study was to obtain improved local and regional control and survival by shortening of the treatment time in the first 2 weeks of irradiation. Three fractions of 1.6 Gy/day (4-h interval) were given during 10 irradiation days to a total of 48 Gy. After 3-4-weeks interval, a boost was given to 67.2 or 72 Gy also in three fractions per day. This schedule was compared to an identical arm with @entity8712 1 g/m2/day and a third arm with conventional fractionation (70 Gy in 35 fractions, 7 weeks or 75 Gy in 44 fractions, 9 weeks). A total number of 523 @entity1 was included in the study. Acute @entity33 was much heavier in @entity1 treated with three fractions per day (Van den Bogaert et al. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 8: 1649-1655, 1982). Early results, communicated in 1986 (Van den Bogaert et al. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 12: 587-591, 1986) showed no differences in treatment outcome between the three treatment arms. Long-term results and data on late effects are now available. Survival at 5 years was 18% (SE 1.9%) and locoregional control was 27% (SE 2.9%). No statistically significant differences could be observed between the three treatment arms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
