Integrated treatment in locally advanced carcinoma of the oropharynx

Salvage treatment for recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

This study evaluates the oncological outcome of patients with recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) after primary radiation therapy +/- chemotherapy, primary surgical therapy, and surgical therapy followed by radiation therapy +/- chemotherapy.

METHODS

A total of 156 patients (36%) of a cohort of 427 treated for OPSCC between 1990 and 2006 developed recurrent disease. Fifty-one patients (12%) qualified for salvage treatment. Study endpoints were 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS

The 5-year OS and DSS rates after salvage treatment were 29% and 40%; after initial primary radiation therapy, 25% and 40%; after initial surgery followed by radiation therapy, 40% and 40%; and after initial surgery alone, 20% and 40%.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with an advanced OPSCC have a considerable risk for recurrence. Despite poor ultimate outcome, salvage treatment should be attempted in patients with resectable disease, good performance status, and absence of distant metastases.

Treatment Outcomes and Quality of Life in Oropharyngeal Cancer after Surgery-based versus Radiation-based Treatment

Objectives

Advances in reconstruction and conservative surgery and the importance of quality of life (QOL) encouraged this reevaluation of surgery-based treatments for oropharyngeal cancer. We tried to compare treatment outcome and QOL after surgery-based versus radiation-based treatment in oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods

The 133 eligible patients were divided into surgery-based and radiotherapy (RT)-based treatment groups. Medical records were reviewed, and EORTC QLQ-C30 and HN65 questionnaires were completed for survivors. Three-year overall survivals, disease-free survivals, locoregional control rates, and QOL scores were compared between the two groups.

Results

Demographic data and overall stages were not significantly different between the two groups, and all survival rates were non-significantly different, either. The scores for most QOL items were equivalent, however, for a few items, scores were significantly better in surgery-based group.

Conclusion

The surgery-based group achieved equivalent treatment outcomes and slightly better QOL scores than the RT-based group. The results of this study suggest that surgery could still be considered as a first-line therapy for oropharyngeal cancer.