Concurrent Superselective Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for Late-Stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Temporal Bone

Abstract

Objectives:

This study evaluated the efficacy of concurrent superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy without surgery for late-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone, which typically has a poor prognosis.

Methods:

The subjects were 5 patients treated at our hospital between 2007 and 2010 for primary cancer of the temporal bone. One patient had a stage T3 tumor, and 4 patients had T4 tumors, according to the Pittsburgh staging system. All patients received irradiation with a conventional once-daily fraction of 2 Gy, and the total dose ranged from 60 to 66 Gy. Intra-arterial cisplatin via transfemoral catheterization and intravenous sodium thiosulfate were administered. The contribution of each vessel in supplying blood to the primary tumor was determined by real-time computed tomographic angiography.

Results:

Three patients obtained a complete response. The same 3 patients remain alive without local recurrence (mean survival, 28 months), 1 patient died of distant metastasis without local recurrence after 19 months, and 1 patient remains alive with local recurrence.

Conclusions:

Although the small number of patients prevents comparisons with other treatments, the present study obtained good results. This may become an effective treatment for patients with late-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone.