No evidence for a different magnitude of the time factor for continuously fractionated irradiation and protocols including gaps in two human squamouscell carcinoma in nude mice

Background and purpose: To study whether the magnitude of the time factor i s different for continuously fractionated irradiation and for fractionation protocols including gaps. Materials and methods: Two human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (SC Cs), FaDu and GL, were transplanted subcutaneously into the right hindleg o f NMRI (nu/nu) mice and irradiated with 30 fractions under ambient conditio ns within 2, 6 and 10 weeks. Irradiations within 6 and 10 weeks were given either as a continuous course or with a mid-course gap of 3 weeks. The end- point of the experiments was local tumor control at day 120 (FaDu) or day 1 80 (GL) after the end of treatment. Results: In FaDu tumors, two experimental cohorts (A, B) yielded significan tly different results and were analyzed separately. In cohort A, the tumor control dose 50% (TCD50) increased from 37 to 89 Gy when the treatment time of continuous fractionated irradiation was extended from 2 to 10 weeks. Th e recovered dose/day (D-r) was 0.98 Gy (95% confidence interval, 0.72; 1.27 ). In cohort B, the TCD50 increased from 35 to 63 Gy, and the D-r was 0.51 Gy (0.24; 0.75). In GL tumors, the TCD50 for continuously fractionated irra diation increased from 41 to 48 Gy, This increase was not significant, and the D-r was 0.15 Gy (0; 0.30). None of the TCD50 and D-r values obtained in both tumor models for continuous irradiation vs. irradiation with a gap we re significantly different. Conclusions: Prolongation of the overall treatment time of fractionated irr adiation resulted in a pronounced decrease of local control in human FaDu S CC and little decrease of local control in human GL SCC. No evidence was fo und that the magnitude of the time factor in these tumors is different for continuous fractionation or fractionation protocols including gaps. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.