Multicenter study of re-irradiation using carbon-ions for head and neck malignancies after photon radiotherapy

Purpose: The goal of this multicenter retrospective study of patients with head and neck malignancies was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbon-ion (C-ion) radiotherapy (RT) after photon RT.

Methods: We enrolled 56 patients with head and neck malignancies who underwent re-irradiation (re-RT) using C-ions between November 2003 and March 2019, treated previously with photon RT. The tumors at re-RT were located in the sinonasal cavities (n = 20, 35.7%), skull base (n = 12, 21.4%), and orbit (n = 7, 12.5%). The tumors at the initial RT were located in the sinonasal cavities (n = 13, 23.2%), skull base (n = 9, 16.1%), and orbit (n = 9, 16.1%). The median period between the initial RT and re-RT was 41 (4-568) months. The most common histology of re-RT was squamous cell carcinoma (n = 11, 19.6%). The most commonly used protocol was 57.6 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 16 fractions (n = 23, 41.1%). Surgery preceded re-RT in three patients (5.4%). One patient with malignant melanoma received concurrent chemotherapy.

Results: The 2-year local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 66.5%, 36.9%, and 67.9%, respectively. The median follow-up time was 28 months. Two patients (3.6%) developed grade ≥ 3 acute toxicities, and 14 (25.0%) developed grade ≥ 3 late toxicities. A single patient had confirmed grade 5 dermatitis with infection.

Conclusion: Re-RT using C-ions for head and neck malignancies after photon RT is an effective treatment with tolerable toxicity.