Recently, several types of promising radiotherapy for oral cancer have been explored. Among these, intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT), particle therapy, brachytherapy, and boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT)are reviewed here.
Radiotherapy has played an important role in the treatment of head and neck cancers including oral cancer. IMRT allows highly consistent dose distributions to target volumes of almost any shape. The primary benefit of IMRT is its potential for sparing the parotid gland, leading to reduction of xerostomia.
Particle therapy using protons or carbon ions is capable of delivering high-dose radiation to the tumor while minimizing the dose delivered to organs at risk. Regarding head and neck malignancies, particle therapy has been used mainly for radioresistant tumors such as mucosal malignant melanoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma, and favorable outcomes have been obtained. Among the patients with non-squamous cell carcinomas and sarcomas which comprise approximately 10% of oral malignancies, inoperable cases may be candidates for particle therapy. In terms of radiation toxicities in the oral cavity such as mucositis/mucosal ulcer and osteonecrosis of the jaw, the excellent dose distribution of particle therapy is an advantage.
Brachytherapy is known as a suitable treatment for superficial type oral cancer. The treatment outcomes of 260 cancers in 255 patients who were treated at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital were evaluated.
The 2-year local control rates of superficial type, infiltrative type, and exophytic type oral cancers were 90.9%, 78.9%, and 91.7%, respectively.
By BNCT, radiation can be selectively delivered to tumor cells. The treatment outcomes of 45 patients who have no treatment options at Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute and Japan Atomic Energy Agency were evaluated. Clinical response rates were 87%(CR: 51%, PR: 29% and SD: 7%) and the 5-year OS rate was 30%.
For oral cancer, various radiotherapies play a central role in improving outcomes and reducing morbidities, especially in inoperable cases and in combination with surgery.
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