Frailty and Overall Survival of Older Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Over 60% of diagnoses of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) occur in patients aged over 65. The benefits of radiotherapy (RT) combined with chemotherapy remain controversial in geriatric patients. Frailty stratification is underutilized in clinical practice despite evidence suggesting its predictive power. We aimed to assess the impact of pre-treatment frailty stratification on overall survival (OS) and acute radiation-related toxicity in a cohort of older patients with HNSCC.

Methods

A prospective cohort of 117 patients aged ≥65 years with newly diagnosed HNSCC was enrolled between 2017 and 2022. Patients received RT with or without chemotherapy. Frailty was assessed using the 40-item Frailty Index (FI) as part of a comprehensive geriatric a

SUBMITTER: Giannotti C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11639954 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature