Dr. Villaflor on RAVD of Radiotherapy With Induction Chemotherapy in HNSCC

Victoria M. Villaflor, MD, medical oncologist, associate professor of medicine, The University of Chicago Medicine, discusses findings from a response-adapted volume de-escalation (RAVD) of radiotherapy (RT) using induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (LA-HNSCC).

Results from the study showed that overall survival at 2 years was 80.8%, while disease-free and progression-free survival at 2 years was slightly lower at 79.1%, Villaflor explains. Researchers noted that 86% of patients experienced a good response and disease-free survival (DFS) at 2 years.

There were no patients who experienced failure outside the radiation targeted area, Villaflor says. These results are leading researchers to examine RAVD in patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Within this subgroup, researchers may be able to de-escalate volume for better long-term quality of life.