The relationship of dose to prognosis in squamous-cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract.

How much does radiation dose determine prognosis of patients requiring radiotherapy for squamous-cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract? Using a statistical test of the correlation of dose versus outcome, several results of radiation treatment reported in the literature were examined. The radiation dose received was found to be a poor predictor of which patients would be cured.