Long-term results of hyperfractionated radiotherapy in patients with stage III-IV oropharyngeal carcinoma

Radiotherapy was given to 139 patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma (stage III-IV) divided into two groups. Group I included 82 patients who received three daily equal fractions (1 Gy), at 4 hr interval, of a mean total focal dose of 80 Gy. Patients in group II (57) received a mean total dose of 68 Gy in 5 weekly standard fractions. Fractionated treatment was carried out in both groups in three stages at 17-day intervals. Complete remission was achieved in 50 (60.9%) patients in group I and in 31 (54.4%)--group II. Total 5-year and recurrence-free survival was 37.3 +/- 5.4 and 32.4 +/- 5.2% (group I) and 12.5 +/- 4.7 and 10.4 +/- 4.4% in group II, respectively. Radiation injury rates were nearly identical in both groups: 14% for standard radiotherapy and 12% for multiple fractions. The data point to high effectiveness of the latter.