Importance of hemoglobin concentration and its modification for the outcome of head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy

Figures & data

Figure 1. Oxygen dissociation curve (calculated by Kelman's equation [18]).

Figure 2. Loco-regional control and hemoglobin concentration (redrawn with permission from Overgaard et al. [34]).

Figure 3. Tumor adaption to red cell blood transfusion by growth (adapted from Hirst et al. [60]).

Figure 4. Hemoglobin level during treatment in patients treated with radiotherapy and randomized to ESA, transfusion, no treatment high or low Hb level (combined data from DAHANCA 5, 7 and 10).

Figure 5. Survival outcomes of 1166 patients in the DAHANCA 5 & 7 trials randomized to transfusion during radiotherapy (by Hoff et al. [8]).

Figure 6. Ten-year survival curve comparing never smokers and quitters to moderate and heavy smokers (smoking more than 20 cigarettes or 1 pack per day) (smk = smokers).

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