Final Results of the 94–01 French Head and Neck Oncology and Radiotherapy Group Randomized Trial Comparing Radiotherapy Alone With Concomitant Radiochemotherapy in Advanced-Stage Oropharynx Carcinoma

Five-year overall survival, specific disease-free survival, and locoregional control rates were 22% and 16% (log-rank P =.05), 27% and 15% (P =.01), and 48% and 25% (P =.002), in arm B and arm A, respectively. Stage IV, hemoglobin level lower than 125 g/L, and standard treatment were independent prognostic factors of short survival and locoregional failure by univariate and multivariate analysis. One or more grade 3 to 4 complications occurred in 56% of the patients in arm B, compared with 30% in arm A (P was not significant).

Concomitant radiochemotherapy improved overall survival and locoregional control rates and does not statistically increase severe late morbidity. Anemia was the most important prognostic factor for survival in both arms.