Predictive value of in vitro radiosensitivity parameters in head and neck cancers and cervical carcinomas: preliminary correlations with local control and overall survival.

PURPOSE

To determine whether in vitro radiosensitivity parameters are predictive of treatment outcome.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Biopsies were obtained from patients with head and neck cancers (57) and cervical carcinomas (20) and in vitro radiosensitivity parameters were obtained using the CAM plate assay.

RESULTS

In most cases (75%) patients were treated with radiation alone. The median follow up was 461 days. When the whole group of head and neck cancers and cervical carcinomas was considered, patients with a SF2 value below 0.36 had a higher 2-year local control rate (93% versus 68%) and a higher 2-year survival rate (71% vs. 62%) than those with SF2 values above that threshold, but differences were not significant. These trends persisted when head and neck cancers were considered alone with a higher local control rate (86% vs. 67%) and a higher survival rate (75% vs. 52.5%) obtained for patients with a SF2 value below 0.36. When the alpha value was evaluated for the whole group of patients a significantly higher local control rate (80.5% vs. 40.5%) and overall survival rate (71% versus 37.5%) at 2 years were obtained for patients with alpha values above 0.07 Gy-1. When only the group of head and neck cancers was considered, local control rate was significantly higher (79% vs. 33%) but overall survival rate (65.5% vs. 33%) was not significantly higher for alpha values above 0.07 Gy-1.

CONCLUSION

These results are encouraging but need to be confirmed with a larger number of patients with a longer follow-up.