Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Anticancer Research |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 823-830 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 0250-7005 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 02.2023 |
Research Areas and Centers
- Research Area: Luebeck Integrated Oncology Network (LION)
- Centers: University Cancer Center Schleswig-Holstein (UCCSH)
DFG Research Classification Scheme
- 2.22-14 Hematology, Oncology
- 2.22-29 Otorlaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology
