Evaluation of the Impact of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Toxicity and Outcomes of Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer

Background/aim: Smoking and alcohol abuse may impair outcomes of chemoradiation for squamous cell head and neck cancer (SCCHN). Potential associations with toxicity, loco-regional control (LRC), and overall survival (OS) were investigated.

Patients and methods: Ninety-six patients were retrospectively analyzed for impacts of pre-radiotherapy (pre-RT) smoking history, smoking during radiotherapy, and pre-RT alcohol abuse on toxicity, LRC, and OS.

Results: A trend was found for associations between pre-RT smoking history and grade ≥2 dermatitis. Smoking during radiotherapy was significantly associated with grade ≥3 mucositis and showed trends regarding grade ≥2 mucositis and dermatitis. On univariate analyses, smoking during radiotherapy was negatively associated with LRC and OS, pre-RT alcohol abuse with OS, and >40 pack years with LRC and OS. In multivariate analyses, smoking during radiotherapy remained significant for decreased OS, and pack years showed a trend.

Conclusion: Smoking during radiotherapy was an independent predictor of OS and associated with increased toxicity. Thus, it is important to stop smoking prior to the start of radiotherapy.