Table 2 Patient and tumour characteristic by group of treatment

Nº of patients

56

52

Age, years

   Median

58

60

NS

   Range

44-74

33-84

Sex

   Male

55

98

46

89

0.05

   Female

1

2

6

11

Current smokers

   No

3

5

3

6

NS

   Yes

28

50

49

94

   Unknown

25

45

0

0

Alcohol consumption

   No

1

2

12

23

   Yes

28

50

39

75

0.02

Unknown

27

48

1

2

Performance status

   ECOG 0–1

51

91

45

87

NS

   ECOG 2-3

5

9

7

13

Tumor site

   Oral cavity

13

23

3

6

Oropharynx

16

29

23

44

0.02

   Larynx

17

30

21

40

   Hypopharynx

10

18

5

10

Grade

   Well/Moderate

34

61

12

23

NS

   Poor

5

9

6

12

   Unknown

17

30

34

65

Tumour stage

   T1-T3

20

36

30

58

NS

   T4

36

64

22

42

Nodal status

   N0-N1

24

43

32

61

NS

   N2-N3

32

57

20

39

P16 expression

negative

46

82

44

85

NS

positive

10

18

8

15

HPV16 expression

negative

50

89

46

88

NS

positive

6

11

6

12

Irradiation dose

71.2

71

NS

Mean

57-72

70-78

Range

Type of radiotherapy

Conventional RT

1

2

10

19

0.003

Concomitant boost

55

92

42

81

Response

Complete response

42

75

41

79

Partial response

8

14

8

15

NS

Stable disease

2

4

0

0

Progression

1

2

0

0

Unknown

3

5

3

6