Superselective intra-arterial chemo-radiotherapy for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma

Superselective intra-arterial infusion with Docetaxel and concomitant radiotherapy were performed on 22 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx. Their median age was 64 years, ranging from 42 to 83 years. Two had stage III disease and 20 had stage IV disease. Subsites were the piriform sinus in 19, the posterior wall in 2, and the post-cricoid area in 1. For primary tumors, the response rate was 100% (CR21, PR1), and the complete response rate was 95.5%. For neck lymph node metastasis, the initial complete response rate was 28.6% and the response rate was 76.2%. Toxicities included mucositis (grade 3, 40.9%) and leucopenia (grade 3, 45.5%). All patients received scheduled treatments. The rate of larynx preservation with the therapy was 100%. The four-year survival rate was 79.3%. Based on the results, superselective intra-arterial chemo-radiotherapy is effective in preserving the larynx.