Risk factors and survival impact of severe radiation-related late toxicities in head and neck cancer-a cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Radiation late toxicities (RLTs) are complications of curative-intent radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) and are increasingly relevant due to younger age at diagnosis and improved survival outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study of HNC patients who received ≥50 Gy as part of curative treatment between January 2003 and December 2020 at a Canadian quaternary cancer center. Risk factors for severe RLTs (≥RTOG Grade 3) were evaluated using time-to-event analyses. Actuarial rates of RLT and overall survival (OS) were estimated using competing risk and Kaplan-Meier methods, respectively. Cox proportional hazard models identified factors associated with RLT and OS.

Findings

Among 7622 patients, 12.6% (n = 958) developed RLTs without disease pro

SUBMITTER: Mathew JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12446504 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature