RT FOR OROPHARYNGEAL CANCER

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Harry Quon, MD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues, ASCO has endorsed the recently published American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) evidence-based clinical practice guideline on radiation therapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

ASCO Review of ASTRO Guideline

ASTRO produced an evidence-based guideline on radiation therapy in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma that was determined to be relevant to ASCO membership. After applying standard critical appraisal policy and endorsement procedures, ASCO chose to endorse the ASTRO guideline.

The ASTRO guideline was reviewed by ASCO content experts for clinical accuracy and by ASCO methodologists for developmental rigor. On favorable review, an ASCO expert panel was convened to review the guideline contents and recommendations, with the ASCO clinical practice guidelines committee approving the final endorsement. The ASCO panel was co-chaired by Dr. Quon; Arlene Forastiere, MD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Neha Vapiwala, MD, of Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Areas of Recommendation

The ASTRO recommendations are reprinted from a July report of Practical Radiation Oncology by Sher et al. ASCO has added qualifying statements and minor modifications to the ASTRO guideline. The staging system used for the guidelines is the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual, 7th edition. The guideline consists of recommendations for a variety of disease stages and clinical scenarios on:

• The addition of systemic therapy to definitive radiotherapy in the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
• Postoperative radiotherapy with and without systemic therapy following primary surgery of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
• Induction chemotherapy in the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
• The appropriate dose, fractionation, and volume regimens with and without systemic therapy in the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Additional information is available at www.asco.org/head-neck-cancerguidelines and www.asco.org/guidelineswiki.

The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.

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