Top Line: What are the outcomes of single vocal cord irradiation for early stage larynx cancer?
The Study: Partial laryngectomy is an option for early stage larynx cancer, so why no partial larynx RT? This phase 2 trial is one of the first to randomize patients to standard whole larynx RT or single vocal cord RT. It included 57 patients with cT1aN0 disease. In the standard arm, patients received 63 Gy in 28 fractions to the whole larynx. In the partial larynx arm, they received 58.08 Gy in 16 fractions. The single vocal cord target was a 5mm radial and 1cm craniocaudal expansion of the GTV plus another 5mm PTV expansion. The primary endpoint of voice handicap index (VHI) was worse in both arms at the end of treatment, but at 2 months VHI was significantly better with single vocal cord RT. The rate of local control at 2 years was 100% with single vocal cord RT and 95% with standard whole larynx RT. Adverse events were low overall with no grade 3 events in either arm.
TBL: In this randomized, phase 2 trial, moderately hypofractionated single vocal cord RT resulted in better voice quality and excellent local control at 2 years. | Elsharief, Radiother Oncol 2025
The Study: Partial laryngectomy is an option for early stage larynx cancer, so why no partial larynx RT? This phase 2 trial is one of the first to randomize patients to standard whole larynx RT or single vocal cord RT. It included 57 patients with cT1aN0 disease. In the standard arm, patients received 63 Gy in 28 fractions to the whole larynx. In the partial larynx arm, they received 58.08 Gy in 16 fractions. The single vocal cord target was a 5mm radial and 1cm craniocaudal expansion of the GTV plus another 5mm PTV expansion. The primary endpoint of voice handicap index (VHI) was worse in both arms at the end of treatment, but at 2 months VHI was significantly better with single vocal cord RT. The rate of local control at 2 years was 100% with single vocal cord RT and 95% with standard whole larynx RT. Adverse events were low overall with no grade 3 events in either arm.
TBL: In this randomized, phase 2 trial, moderately hypofractionated single vocal cord RT resulted in better voice quality and excellent local control at 2 years. | Elsharief, Radiother Oncol 2025