Salvage surgery for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Recurrence Detection by Hybrid [18F]FDG-PET in Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

In the clinical management of advanced stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the use of hybrid [18F]FDG-PET imaging is well established. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the optimal frequency of hybrid PET scans to be included in follow-up protocols, particularly if the initial post-therapeutic scan is negative.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center 10-year retrospective study involving all patients who underwent hybrid PET scans for the follow-up of advanced stage head and neck cancer. A total of 285 patients were included.

RESULTS

Out of 199 patients with a negative 3-month hybrid PET, 15% subsequently developed a recurrence during further follow-up. Notably, 90% of these recurrences were detected by hybrid PET.

CONCLUSION

Fifteen percent of patients with a negative 3-month hybrid PET experienced a recurrence. Given that the majority of recurrences were detected by hybrid PET scans, there is a compelling argument for incorporating regular repetitive scans during follow-up.

The Neck-Persistency-Net: a three-dimensional, convolution, deep neural network aids in distinguishing vital from non-vital persistent cervical lymph nodes in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after primary concurrent radiochemotherapy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the diagnostic performance (DP) of the high-resolution contrast computed tomography (HR-contrast-CT) based Neck-Persistency-Net in distinguishing vital from non-vital persistent cervical lymph nodes (pcLNs) in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) following primary concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and high-resolution contrast-enhanced computed tomography ([18F]FDG-PET-CT). Furthermore, the Neck-Persistency-Net's potential to justify omitting post-CRT neck dissection (ND) without risking treatment delays or preventing unnecessary surgery was explored.

METHODS

All HNSCC patients undergoing primary CRT followed by post-CRT-ND for pcLNs recorded in the institutional HNSCC registry were analyzed. The Neck-Persistency-Net DP was explored for three scenarios: balanced performance (BalPerf), optimized sensitivity (OptSens), and optimized specificity (OptSpec). Histopathology of post-CRT-ND served as a reference.

RESULTS

Among 68 included patients, 11 were female and 32 had vital pcLNs. The Neck-Persistency-Net demonstrated good DP with an area under the curve of 0.82. For BalPerf, both sensitivity and specificity were 78%; for OptSens (90%), specificity was 62%; for OptSpec (95%), sensitivity was 54%. Limiting post-CRT-ND to negative results would have delayed treatment in 27%, 40%, and 7% for BalPerf, OptSens and OptSpec, respectively, versus 23% for [18F]FDG-PET-CT. Conversely, restricting post-CRT-ND to positive results would have prevented unnecessary post-CRT-ND in 78%, 60%, and 95% for BalPerf, OptSens and OptSpec, respectively, versus 55% for [18F]FDG-PET-CT.

CONCLUSION

The DP of the Neck-Persistency-Net was comparable to [18F]-FDG-PET-CT. Depending on the chosen decision boundary, the potential to justify the omission of post-CRT-ND without risking treatment delays in false negative findings or reliably prevent unnecessary surgery in false positive findings outperforms the [18F]-FDG-PET-CT.

Patterns of failure after salvage head and neck surgery

BACKGROUND

Advancements in immunotherapy for recurrent head and neck cancer have necessitated a better understanding of salvage surgical outcomes. This study aimed to determine patterns of failure following salvage head and neck surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 280 patients who underwent salvage surgery for recurrent mucosal squamous cell carcinoma from 1997 to 2018. Cumulative incidence was calculated using the nonparametric Aalen-Johansen estimator. Time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate associated factors.

RESULTS

The 2 and 5-year cumulative incidence rates of second recurrence were 48.3 % (95 % CI 42.4-54.3) and 54.9 % (95 % CI 48.9-60.8), respectively. At 5 years, second locoregional recurrence was twice as common as distant recurrence (41.5 % [95 % CI 35.6-47.4] vs. 21.7 % [95 % CI 16.8-26.6]). The median TTR was 21.1 months (95 % CI 4.4-34.8), which varied by site (38.2 larynx/hypopharynx, 13.9 oral cavity, 8.3 sinonasal, and 7.8 oropharynx, P=.0001). The median OS was 32.1 months (95 % CI 24.1-47.6) and was worse for patients who were Black (hazard ratio [HR] 2.15, 95 % CI 1.19-3.9), current smokers (HR 2.73, 95 % CI 1.53-4.88), former smokers (HR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.19-3.35), ≥ 60 years of age (HR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.01-1.97), or received multimodal primary therapy (HR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.26-3.13).

CONCLUSION

Rates of recurrence and mortality after salvage surgery were poor but worse for patients who were Black, older, smoked, had initial multimodal therapy, or had sinonasal or oropharyngeal cancers.

Ethical Considerations and Equipoise in Cancer Surgery

The changing landscape of cancer surgery requires ongoing consideration of ethical issues to ensure patient-centered care and fair access to treatments. With technological advancements and the global expansion of surgical interventions, healthcare professionals must navigate complex ethical dilemmas related to patient autonomy, informed consent, and the impact of new technologies on the physician-patient relationship. Additionally, ethical principles and decision-making in oncology, especially in the context of genetic predisposition to breast cancer, highlight the importance of integrating patient knowledge, preferences, and alignment between goals and treatments. As global surgery continues to grow, addressing ethical considerations becomes crucial to reduce disparities in access to surgical interventions and uphold ethical duties in patient care. Furthermore, the rise of digital applications in healthcare, such as digital surgery, requires heightened awareness of the unique ethical issues in this domain. The ethical implications of using artificial intelligence (AI) in robotic surgical training have drawn attention to the challenges of protecting patient and surgeon data, as well as the ethical boundaries that innovation may encounter. These discussions collectively emphasize the complex ethical issues associated with surgical innovation and underscore the importance of upholding ethical standards in the pursuit of progress in the field. In this study, we thoroughly analyzed previous scholarly works on ethical considerations and equipoise in the field of oncological surgery. Our main focus was on the use of AI in this specific context.

Functional outcomes and survival after total glossectomy with laryngectomy: a systematic review

Total glossectomy with laryngectomy (TGL) is a procedure with high morbidity/mortality risks reserved for cases of advanced tongue cancer with laryngeal invasion. This technique is controversial as there are significant impacts on quality of life, including loss of functional speech and swallowing. A systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines with the primary goal of quantifying the functional outcomes and overall survival of patients undergoing TGL. The initial search resulted in 748 studies; seven of these met the inclusion criteria. Five studies evaluated functional speech postoperatively, and 12.1% (8/66) of patients in these studies achieved a form of functional speech. Most studies did not refer to the use of specific postoperative voice rehabilitation. Regarding swallowing function, 53.3% (32/60) of patients in five studies regained their ability to swallow. In six studies reporting gastrostomy tube dependence, 37.7% (29/77) of patients were tube-dependent. Recurrence within 1-year was reported in three studies; 52% (26/50) of the patients had recurrence within 1 year, and the 1-year disease-free survival rate was 48%. TGL is a highly invasive surgery; postoperatively, most patients do not regain the ability to speak, while only half are able to swallow. Despite these extreme efforts and sacrifices by the patient, approximately half of patients have a recurrence within the first year. The decision to perform a TGL should be made only in select and motivated patients after carefully explaining and weighing the oncological and quality of life risks and benefits.

Diagnostic Performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT According to Delay After Treatment to Detect Subclinical Recurrence of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a malignancy with high rates of locoregional recurrence and poor prognosis for recurrent cases. Early detection of subclinical lesions is challenging but critical for effective patient management. Imaging surveillance after treatment, particularly 18F-FDG PET/CT, has shown promise in the diagnosis of HNSCC recurrence. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT according to delay after treatment in detecting subclinical recurrence (SCR) in HNSCC patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, all 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed at a single center. All adults with histologically proven HNSCC who were treated with curative intent between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2021, were included. They had a normal clinical examination before each scan. Patients who underwent an intensive follow-up strategy after treatment had 18F-FDG PET/CT with an intravenous contrast agent at 3-6 mo and annually thereafter for 5 y. The primary endpoint was diagnostic performance (positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy). Results: In total, 2,566 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed among 852 patients, with an average of 3 scans per patient. The overall diagnostic performance measures were as follows: positive predictive value (88%), negative predictive value (98%), sensitivity (98%), specificity (89%), and accuracy (93%). There were no significant differences in diagnostic performance over time. The scans detected 126 cases of SCR (14.8%) and 118 cases of metachronous cancer (13.8%). The incidence of SCR decreased over time, with the highest detection rate in the first 2 y after treatment. Positive predictive value improved over time, reaching 90% for the digital Vision 600 system (third period) compared with 76% for the analog Gemini GXLi system (first period, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified advanced stage, high body mass index, and initial PET/CT upstaging as predictive factors for detection of SCR. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that 18F-FDG PET/CT has high diagnostic performance in detecting SCR during follow-up after treatment of HNSCC, especially in the first 2 y. Advanced tumor stage, initial PET/CT upstaging, and high body mass index were associated with a higher likelihood of SCR detection. The routine use of 18F-FDG PET/CT during follow-up seems justified for patients with HNSCC.

Adjuvant Reirradiation With Proton Therapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose

For patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), locoregional failure and second primary tumors are common indications for adjuvant reirradiation (re-RT). Given an absence of clear consensus on the role of adjuvant re-RT, we sought to assess histopathologic risk factors of patients with HNSCC and their resulting outcomes after adjuvant re-RT with proton therapy.

Methods and Materials

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with HNSCC who underwent salvage surgery at our institution followed by adjuvant re-RT with proton therapy over 1.5 years. All included patients received prior radiation therapy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate locoregional recurrence-free survival and overall survival.

Results

The cohort included 22 patients, with disease subsites, including oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx, and nasopharynx. Depending on adverse pathologic features, adjuvant re-RT to 66 Gy (32% of cohort) or 60 Gy (68%), with (59%) or without (41%) concurrent systemic therapy was administered. The majority (86%) completed re-RT with no reported treatment delay; 3 patients experienced grade ≥3 acute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events toxicity and no patient required enteral feeding tube placement during re-RT. Median follow-up was 21.0 months (IQR, 11.7-25.2 months). Five patients had biopsy-proven disease recurrences a median of 5.9 months (IQR, 3.8-9.7 months) after re-RT. Locoregional recurrence-free survival was 95.2%, 70.2%, 64.8% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. OS was 100%, 79.2%, and 79.2% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Four patients had osteoradionecrosis on imaging a median of 13.2 months (IQR, 8.7-17.4 months) after re-RT, with 2 requiring surgical intervention.

Conclusions

Adjuvant re-RT for patients with HNSCC was well-tolerated and offered reasonable local control in this high-risk cohort but appears to be associated with a risk of osteoradionecrosis. Additional study and longer follow-up could help define optimal patient management in this patient population.

Results of salvage neck dissection after chemoradiation in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Salvage surgery is mandatory when regional persistence/recurrence after chemoradiation. The aim of this study is to describe the outcomes of salvage surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that were primarily treated with chemorradiation and underwent salvage neck dissection (ND) with suspected recurrent/persistent nodal disease. All patients had a response evaluation at 12 weeks through clinical examination and computed tomography-positron emission tomography. Decision for ND was taken in case of suspected persistence or if there was suspicion of recurrence, histologically confirmed.

RESULTS

There were 40 patients included. 32/40 (80%) ND were done because of confirmed/suspected persistence and 8/40 (20%) were done because of recurrences. Persistence was confirmed histologically in 14/32 (43.8%) cases and recurrence in 6/8 (75%) cases. Median survival from diagnosis was 39 months (95% CI 28.162-49.838). Significant differences were observed between patients who had viable tumour cells in the sample and those who did not, but the differences were only significant when only deaths due to tumour progression were considered (p = 0.014). 14/32 (43.8%) patients with suspected or confirmed persistence developed a recurrence after the ND and 3/8 (37.5%) patients with suspected or confirmed recurrence developed a new recurrence. New recurrences were more frequent in cases that had viable tumor in the specimen.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with nodal persistence/recurrence have a poor prognosis, even after salvage surgery. However, in a substantial number of patients the disease is controlled after ND, so it should be offer to these patients.

Multimodality treatment in recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck: current therapy, challenges, and future perspectives

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a complex group of diseases that presents a challenge to the clinician. The prognosis in the recurrent/metastatic disease is particularly dismal, with a median survival of approximately 12 months. Recently, the personalized and multimodal approach has increased prognosis by integrating locoregional strategies (salvage surgery and stereotactic radiotherapy) and systemic treatments (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and target therapy). Malnutrition is a significant clinical problem that interferes with dose intensity, and thus, feeding supplementation is critical not only to increase the quality of life but also to improve overall survival. With this review, we want to emphasize the importance of the multidisciplinary approach, quality of life, and nutritional supportive care and to integrate the latest updates of predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy and future therapeutic strategies.

Functional and quality-of-life outcomes following salvage surgery for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are frequently managed with salvage surgery, but the impact these operations have on function and quality-of-life (QoL) is understudied. This review aimed to provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the functional and QoL effects of salvage surgical procedures.

METHODS

Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of studies reporting QoL and function following salvage HNSCC resections.

RESULTS

The search identified 415 articles and 34 were selected for inclusion. Pooled random effects analysis revealed long-term feeding and tracheostomy tube rates of 18% and 7%. Pooled long-term feeding tube rates in open oral and oropharyngeal, transoral robotic, total and partial laryngectomy surgeries were 41%, 25%, 11% and 4%. Eight studies used validated QoL questionnaires.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional and QoL outcomes from salvage surgery are acceptable, but appear to be worse following open procedures. Prospective studies measuring changes over time are needed to assess these procedures impact on patient well-being.

Review of Outcomes after Salvage Surgery for Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Surgery with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is the mainstay in treatment for advanced stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; however, locoregional recurrences are frequent. Salvage surgery could be proposed in selected patients to improve local control, disease-free, and overall survival. Factors for improved disease-free and overall survival in patients treated with salvage surgery include age, tumor location, the initial T stage, HPV status, resection margins, and the time elapsing from the initial treatment. Clinical trials with adjuvant therapies have shown promise after salvage surgery in terms of tolerance and response, but clinical guidelines for using these adjuvant treatments are currently lacking. The aim of this review is to present current knowledge concerning the incidence and management of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and current data concerning survival and morbidity after salvage surgery.

The Lack of Standardized Outcomes for Surgical Salvage of HPV-Positive Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Scoping Review

Although HPV status is known to provide an improved prognosis in initial treatments of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), it is unclear how it affects patients who receive salvage surgery (SS), which has historically poor survival rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of SS for patients with locoregional recurrence (LRR) of HPV-positive OPSCC and its impact survival rates. We conducted a scoping review of literature through October 2022 and included 995 individuals. Survival endpoints, such as overall survival (OS), Kaplan-Meier curves, and median post-recurrence survival, were analyzed in addition to demographics. Of all studies, 18.8% (6/32) reported any survival data for SS patients, with the most prevalent reporting 2- and 5-year OS in two studies. Median post-recurrence survival was not reported for SS. These findings reveal the limited and unpredictable reporting of survival-specific data on SS for HPV-positive OPSCC. With limited survival assessment, it is difficult to assess the potential advantages and disadvantages of this therapy to guide clinical decision-making.

Salvage total glossectomy and total glosso-laryngectomy: Are they worth it? A GETTEC French multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Salvage total glossectomy (TG) or total glosso-laryngectomy (TGL) remain controversial, as highly morbid procedures. The objective was to describe oncological and functional outcomes after salvage TG or TGL.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter retrospective study, including patients with previous neck irradiation undergoing TG or TGL for squamous cell carcinoma involving the base of tongue.

RESULTS

We included 42 patients: 27 in the TG group and 15 in the TGL group. For the entire cohort, median OS and DFS were estimated at 19 months (95% IC [14-44]) and 10 months (95% IC [7-13]) respectively, with no difference between the two groups. After a median follow-up of 90 months, 10 patients (24%) were alive and free of disease. Att he end of follow-up, we noted a gastrostomy dependency of 89% and 87 %respectively in the TG and TGL group, and 48% of patients in the TG group had a tracheotomy.

CONCLUSION

Although local control is difficult to achieve after salvage TG or TGL, these procedures are associated with acceptable survival and chance of cure for a last-resort situation. TG and TGL can be proposed in selected motivated patients after careful shared decision-making.

A loss-of-function polymorphism in ATG16L1 compromises therapeutic outcome in head and neck carcinoma patients

The anticancer immune response is shaped by immunogenic cell stress and death pathways. Thus, cancer cells can release danger-associated molecular patterns that act on pattern recognition receptors expressed by dendritic cells and their precursors to elicit an antitumor immune response. Here, we investigated the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes affecting this cancer-immunity dialogue in the context of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We observed that homozygosity for a loss-of-function SNP (rs2241880, leading to the substitution of a threonine residue in position 300 by an alanine) affecting autophagy related 16 like 1 (ATG16L1) is coupled to poor progression-free survival in platinum-treated HNSCC patients. This result was obtained on a cohort of patients enrolled at the Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus and was validated on an independent cohort of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Homozygosity in rs2241880 is well known to predispose to Crohn’s disease, and epidemiological associations between Crohn’s disease and HNSCC have been reported at the levels of cancer incidence and prognosis. We speculate that rs2241880 might be partially responsible for this association.