Oncologic outcomes of surgically treated early-stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Novel Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Treating HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common malignancy, with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) accounting for a majority of cases in the western world. While HNC accounts for only 5% of all cancers in the United States, the incidence of a subset of OPSCC caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) is increasing rapidly. The treatment for OPSCC is multifaceted, with a recently emerging focus on immunotherapeutic approaches. With the increased incidence of HPV-related OPSCC and the approval of immunotherapy in the management of recurrent and metastatic HNC, there has been rising interest in exploring the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of HPV-related OPSCC specifically. The immune microenvironment in HPV-related disease is distinct from that in HPV-negative OPSCC, which has prompted further research into various immunotherapeutics. This review focuses on HPV-related OPSCC, its immune characteristics, and current challenges and future opportunities for immunotherapeutic applications in this virus-driven cancer.

Do We Have Enough Evidence to Specifically Recommend Transoral Robotic Surgery in HPV-Driven Oropharyngeal Cancer? A Systematic Review

Introduction: International guidelines include transoral robotic surgery (TORS) as an option for selected oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). In the perspective of treatment de-intensification, many surgeons have started recommending and performing TORS preferentially in p16- positive OPSCC in order to reduce the long-term morbidity related to chemoradiotherapy. The aim of the present review is to analyze the current evidence supporting the above-cited strategy. Materials and Methods: The study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Twenty-two studies were included in this review, with a total of 3992 patients treated with primary TORS. The majority of patients were classified as HPV+ (n = 3655, 91.6%), and 8.2% (n = 327) as HPV-. The HPV status was unknown in only 10 (0.3%) patients. In particular, only five of the included studies compared survival outcomes of HPV-positive patients with HPV-negative ones treated with primary TORS, and only two of these found a significant improvement in survival in the HPV-driven cohort. Discussion: The current literature does not clarify whether HPV+ OPSCCs treated with TORS, alone or with adjuvant treatments, are associated with a better oncologic and/or functional outcome compared to those treated with radio- or chemoradiotherapy. However, TORS alone obtained good oncological outcomes in a high percentage of cases in the reviewed series. Recent data, on the other hand, suggest that TORS could represent a promising strategy for intensifying treatments in HPV- OPSCC.

Current considerations for radiotherapy in HPV-associated head and neck cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated oncogenesis confers increased sensitivity to radiotherapy and HPV head and neck cancer is associated with improved patient outcomes. As such, management of HPV-related head and neck cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach that balances maximizing locoregional control with minimizing treatment-related toxicity. We highlight considerations in radiation dose and target delineation, as well as considerations for chemoradiation, postoperative radiotherapy, and single modality, definitive radiotherapy.

Muscle invasion in oropharyngeal carcinoma undergoing transoral robotic surgery

BACKGROUNDS

Pathologic features of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with trans-oral robotic surgery predict prognosis and adjuvant therapy. We hypothesized that pathologic muscle invasion (pMI) is associated with poor pathological markers.

METHODS

Retrospective review of surgically treated OPSCC to identify pMI and its association with poor pathologic markers.

RESULTS

pMI was present in 12/37 patients, and compared to non-pMI, was associated with higher rates of lymphovascular invasion (75% vs. 36%, p = 0.03), perineural invasion (16.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.04), extranodal extension (66.7% vs. 20%, p < 0.01), and tumor stage (8.3% vs. 48% pT1, 75% vs. 52% pT2 and 16.7% vs. 0% pT3). pMI was associated with having a positive margin on main specimen (41.7% vs. 12%, p = 0.04) but not after considering additional margins.

CONCLUSIONS

Muscle invasion was associated with higher pathologic tumor staging, poor pathologic factors, and higher rates of positive margin on main specimen.

A prospective clinical trial of the second-look procedure for transoral surgery in patients with T1 and T2 laryngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancer

Background

Transoral surgery (TOS) has been widely applied for early T‐stage head and neck cancer (HNC). The resection is performed with a minimum safety margin for function preservation under a limited surgical field; therefore, it is difficult to have a strong conviction about the complete resection. This study aims to evaluate the completeness of the initial TOS procedure; possibility of primary control by TOS alone; and predictive factors in patients with early T‐stage laryngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods

Patients were treated by TOS at the primary site with or without neck dissection. The patients were divided into two groups based on the pathological evaluation of their surgical specimens: the control (observation) group, in that the resection was considered complete and the intervention (second‐look procedure) group, in that incomplete tumor resection was suspected. The predictive factors for the possibility and/or limitations of complete resection by TOS were then analyzed.

Results

The study enrolled 26 and 25 patients in the control and intervention group, respectively. The success rate for single resection was 66% and the predictive factor was tumor depth obtained by enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination (odds ratio, 7.870, P = .0243). The success rate for definitive therapy by TOS alone was 83% and the predictive factor was poor differentiation observed on pathological examination (odds ratio, 6.800, P = .0248).

Conclusions

TOS has the potential for both definitive resection and function preservation with minimal invasiveness. Identification of the risk factors for TOS is advantageous for accurate treatment selection in patients with early T‐stage HNC.

Current Role of Surgery in the Management of Oropharyngeal Cancer

In the last few decades, the surgical treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has undergone enormous changes. Until the 1990s, open surgery was the primary treatment for OPSCC. However, due to the potentially severe functional morbidity of this approach, open surgery was largely displaced by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in the 1990s. At the same time, new, less-invasive surgical approaches such as transoral surgery with monopolar cautery began to emerge, with the potential to reduce functional morbidity and avoid the late-onset toxicity of CRT. More recently, the growing incidence of HPV-positive disease has altered the patient profile of OPSCC, as these patients tend to be younger and have a better long-term prognosis. Consequently, this has further bolstered interest in minimally-invasive techniques to de-intensify treatment to reduce long-term toxicity and treatment-related morbidity. In this context, there has been a renewed interest in the primary surgery, which allows for accurate pathologic staging and thus—potentially—de-intensification of postoperative CRT. The continuous advances in minimally-invasive surgical approaches, including transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and transoral robotic surgery (TORS), have also altered the surgical landscape. These minimally-invasive approaches offer excellent functional outcomes, without the severe toxicity associated with intensive CRT, thus substantially reducing treatment-related morbidity. In short, given the increasing prevalence of HPV-positive OPSCC, together with the severe long-term sequela of aggressive CRT, surgery appears to be recapturing its previous role as the primary treatment modality for this disease. While a growing body of evidence suggests that TLM and TORS offer oncologic outcomes that are comparable to CRT and open surgery, many questions remain due to the lack of prospective data. In the present review, we explore the emerging range of surgical options and discuss future directions in the treatment of OPSCC, including the most relevant clinical trials currently underway.

Head and neck cancer prevention: from primary prevention to impact of clinicians on reducing burden

Survival from head and neck cancers (HNCs) of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx has increased by 10% over the past few decades. Little over half of patients who develop HNCs will survive beyond 5 years. Survival is lower for individuals in many countries where traditional risk factors such as tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and betel quid chewing are highly prevalent but tertiary health care center access is limited or unavailable. Early diagnosis of HNC is the most important prognostic factor for each tumor site. Molecular-based research on HNC tumors holds promise for early stage detection, screening, vaccination, disease follow-up, and progression. Future investments for HNC control must consider both effectiveness and sustainability for both high- and low-resource countries alike, with priority toward risk factor prevention and earlier diagnosis.

Swallowing Function in Survivors of Oropharyngeal Cancer Is Associated With Advanced T Classification

OBJECTIVES

The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is rapidly increasing in the United States. The aim of this study was to characterize the functional status of OPSCC survivors to identify predictors of swallowing dysfunction in this patient population.

METHODS

OPSCC survivors (n = 81) treated at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 2005 and 2015 with at least 2 years of clinical follow-up were reviewed. Functional status was ascertained using (1) gastrostomy and tracheostomy placement and retention, (2) gastrostomy use at last follow-up, (3) patient-reported diet, and (4) modified barium swallow.

RESULTS

Median follow-up duration was 5.6 years; 67% of patients had ≥10-pack-year tobacco exposure; 96% of tumors for which p16 data were available were p16 positive. At last follow-up, 82% of patients reported a regular diet, and only 9 patients required gastrostomy use. Gastrostomy use at last follow-up was higher in patients with T3 and T4 tumors compared with those with T1 and T2 tumors (P = .01). The relationship between T classification and gastrostomy use persisted even when the analysis was limited to p16+ tumors and p16+ tumors with ≥10-pack-year history of tobacco exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced T classification at presentation is a critical predictor of gastrostomy use in long-term OPSCC survivors irrespective of p16 status or tobacco exposure history.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2b.

Human papillomavirus and p16 immunostaining, prevalence and prognosis of squamous carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck region

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck (SCCUPHN), and prognosis by HPV status of SCCUPHN patients has been difficult to estimate because of the rarity of this subtype. In MEDLINE, Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, EMBASE, Cochrane library and Web of Science searches, observational studies and clinical trials that reported survival rates of patients with SCCUPHN by HPV status were identified. Meta-analysis estimated the prevalence and prognosis (overall survival, OS; progression-free survival, PFS) of SCCUPHN by HPV status, and compared them to studies of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) from the same institutions and across continents. In 17 SCCUPHN studies (n = 1,149) and 17 institution-matched OPSCC studies (n = 6,522), the pooled HPV prevalence of SCCUPHN was 49%, which was only 10% (95%CI: 1-19%) lower than OPSCC prevalence in the underlying population. Estimated 5-year OS for HPV-negative SCCUPHN was 44% (95%CI: 36-51%) vs. HPV-positive SCCUPHN of 91% (95%CI: 86-96%); hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 3.25 (95%CI: 2.45-4.31) and PFS was 4.49 (95%CI: 2.88-7.02). HRs by HPV status for OPSCC were similar to that in SCCUPHN. While North American SCCUPHNs had higher HPV prevalence than European SCCUPHNs (OR = 2.68 (95%CI: 1.3-5.6)), HR of OS for HPV-negative vs. HPV-positive patients were similar in both continents (HRs of 3.78-4.09). Prevalence of HPV among SCCUPHN patients were lower than in OPSCC. The survival benefit conferred by being HPV-positive was similar in SCCUPHN as in OPSCCs, independent of continent.

pN status predicts outcomes in surgically treated pT1-pT2 patients of various disease stages with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a 17-year retrospective single center cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The optimal treatment for a substantial proportion of patients with pT1-pT2 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) remains to be refined. The extent of surgery, role and potential benefit of adjuvant treatment are to be balanced against therapy-induced side effects. We compared the outcomes of surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy (CRT) and investigated the prognostic value of established clinicopathological parameters.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively collected for 227 patients who were treated by surgery alone (n = 31), RT (n = 87) and CRT (n = 109) in a single center.

RESULTS

Patients with stage I/II disease who had received adjuvant RT showed a better disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.04) than those who had received adjuvant CRT treatment. Conversely, patients with stage III/IV disease who had received CRT showed a better overall survival (OS) (P = 0.003) and DFS (P = 0.03) than those who had received surgery alone or adjuvant RT without chemotherapy. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with pN0 to pN1 had better OS (P = 0.02), disease-specific survival (DSS) (P = 0.003), DFS (P = 0.02) and metastases free survival (MFS) (P = 0.002) compared to patients with pN2 to pN3. Multivariate analysis showed that the pN status was an independent factor for OS (P = 0.03), DSS (P = 0.04), relapse-free survival (P = 0.03), DFS (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

The pN status is the most important prognostic factor for pT1 to pT2 SCCHN. Adjuvant CRT was associated with significantly better survival outcomes in patients with pN1 and pN2-3 or more advanced stage, while adjuvant RT showed significantly better outcomes in patients with pN0.

The Second-Look Procedure for Transoral Videolaryngoscopic Surgery for T1 and T2 Laryngeal, Oropharyngeal, and Hypopharyngeal Cancer Patients: Protocol for a Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Transoral videolaryngoscopic surgery (TOVS) has been widely applied for early T stage head and neck cancer. The resection is performed with a minimum safety margin for function preservation under a limited surgical field of view, making it difficult to be certain of complete resection.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim is the evaluation of the completeness of resection by initial TOVS resection, and the possibility of primary control by TOVS alone, allowing for repeat procedures for function preserving treatment in early T stage laryngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancer patients.

METHODS

Patients are treated by TOVS for the primary site with or without neck dissection. Patients are divided in two groups based on the results of the pathological evaluation of the surgical specimen; the control group in which the resection is considered to be complete, and the intervention (second-look procedure) group in which incomplete tumor resection is suspected. The predictive factors for the possibility of complete resection by TOVS will then be analyzed.

RESULTS

Patient enrollment started on January 1, 2014, and closed on March 31, 2016, with 54 patients. The control group consists of 27 patients, the intervention group is 21 patients, and 6 patients were excluded. There were no clinical differences between the control and intervention groups. The observation period will end on December 31, 2018.

CONCLUSIONS

TOVS has potential for both definitive resection and function preservation with minimal invasiveness. Identifying the limitations of TOVS is beneficial to ensure accurate treatment selection in early T stage head and neck cancer patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000012485; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi? recptno=R000014472 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6v1b741Iw).

Current Role of Surgery in the Management of Oropharyngeal Cancer

The 1990s saw an increased use of chemoradiotherapy protocols, commonly referred to as organ-sparing therapy, for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer after the Groupe d'Oncologie Radiothérapie Tête et Cou trial. Since that time, human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has been identified as a unique disease, with improved survival regardless of treatment modality. The improved outcomes of this population has led to re-evaluation of treatment paradigms in the past decade, with a desire to spare young, human papillomavirus-positive patients the treatment-related toxicities of chemoradiotherapy and to use new minimally invasive surgical techniques to improve outcomes. Numerous retrospective and prospective studies have investigated the role of surgery in treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma and have demonstrated equivalent oncologic outcomes and improved functional outcomes compared with chemoradiotherapy protocols. Ongoing and future clinical trials may help delineate the role of surgery in the future.

Association of Transoral Robotic Surgery With Short-term and Long-term Outcomes and Costs of Care in Oropharyngeal Cancer Surgery

Importance

The treatment of oropharyngeal cancer has undergone a paradigm shift in the past 2 decades, with an increase in the use of nonoperative treatment owing to poor functional outcomes associated with traditional surgical approaches. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) allows surgical resection of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) with less morbidity through a minimally invasive approach.

Objective

To investigate the relationship among TORS and short- and long-term outcomes and costs in surgically treated patients with OPC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 3573 patients who underwent an ablative procedure for OPC in 2010 to 2012 using the MarketScan Commercial Claim and Encounters database.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The association between TORS and short- and long-term outcomes, length of hospitalization, and treatment-related costs was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression modeling.

Results

Transoral robotic surgery was performed in 304 surgical cases (8.5%); 94.7% of patients were 40 to 64 years old, and 70.7% were male. The use of TORS increased from 4.1% of surgical cases in 2010 to 13.2% of surgical cases in 2012. Patients who underwent TORS had a lower rate of tracheotomy during treatment (3.9% vs 11.4%), and posttreatment gastrostomy tube use (21.9% vs 34.2%), compared with patients undergoing non-TORS procedures. On multivariate analysis, TORS was not associated with significant differences in postoperative complications or length of hospitalization. There was no significant difference in the odds of receiving postoperative radiation therapy between patients who underwent TORS and those who did not; however, among patients receiving radiation therapy, chemoradiation was significantly less likely following TORS (odds ratio [OR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29-0.90). TORS was associated with significantly decreased odds of posttreatment gastrostomy (OR, 0.54; 95% CI. 0.30-0.95) and tracheostomy during treatment (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.06-0.55) at 1 year, and was associated with significantly decreased overall treatment-related costs of care (mean incremental cost, -$22 724).

Conclusions and Relevance

The use of TORS for surgical resection of OPC is increasing in the United States and is associated with significantly lower use of adjuvant chemoradiation, late gastrostomy and tracheostomy dependence, and lower overall treatment-related costs of care. These data have implications for discussions of value in OPC care at a time of health care reform.

Human papillomavirus association is the most important predictor for surgically treated patients with oropharyngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

Upfront surgery is a valuable treatment option for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and risk stratification is emerging for treatment de-escalation in human papillomavirus (HPV)-related OPSCC. Available prognostic models are either based on selected, mainly non-surgically treated cohorts. Therefore, we investigated unselected OPSCC treated with predominantly upfront surgery.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with OPSCC and treated with curative intent between 2000 and 2009 (n=359) were included. HPV association was determined by HPV-DNA detection and p16^INK4a immunohistochemistry. Predictors with significant impact on overall survival (OS) in univariate analysis were included in recursive partitioning analysis.

RESULTS

Risk models generated from non-surgically treated patients showed low discrimination in our cohort. A new model developed for unselected patients predominantly treated with upfront surgery separates low-, intermediate- and high-risk patients with significant differences in 5-year OS (86%, 53% and 19%, P<0.001, respectively). HPV status is the most important parameter followed by T-stage in HPV-related and performance status in HPV-negative OPSCC. HPV status and ECOG remained important parameters in risk models for patients treated with or without surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of treatment strategies, HPV status is the strongest predictor of survival in unselected OPSCC patients. The proposed risk models are suitable to discriminate risk groups in unselected OPSCC patients treated with upfront surgery, which has substantial impact for design and interpretation of de-escalation trials.