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Topics:
Head and Neck Cancers • Radiation Oncology
How would you counsel a patient concerned about receiving IMRT rather than IMPT for oropharyngeal cancer?
A recent randomized trial showed equivalent rates of disease control, with an "unexpected improvement in survival outcomes" with IMPT per the authors' discussion. Of course, the survival difference is a more sensational topic for the media. Given the small event numbers and significant crossover in the trial, how would you reassure concerned patients that IMPT is "a" standard of care rather than "the" standard of care, and that their IMRT treatment is appropriate?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
I would tell the patient there is absolutely no concern at all with IMRT, and it is a very well-established SOC. I am personally unclear about the OS benefit with IMPT, as it was pointed out, unexpected. It is unusual to see no difference in PFS and no tox difference, and yet there is an OS differen...
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Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
I would inform the patient that IMRT remains a well-established standard of care and is my first choice for definitive radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer. The reported survival difference in that trial was based on very few events and occurred in a study with significant crossover, as well as an ...