Sentinel-Lymphonodektomie als Staging-Methode bei Kopf-Hals-Karzinomen

Überlebensverbesserung eines unizentrischen Gesamtkollektivs aus 20 Jahren

PURPOSE

The development of overall survival of a DOSAK (German-Austrian-Swiss Cooperative Group on tumours of the maxillofacial region) clinic's overall population comprising a time period of more than 20 years (1983-2004) should be assessed. At a cutoff date (January 1st, 1997), a change from a primarily surgically based to a consequent multi-modality treatment regimen was implemented. The periods of time before and after that change should be compared.

METHODS AND PATIENTS

The data of the DOSAK registry entries on 1038 patients suffering from primary untreated oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas were updated with respect to follow-up and mortality data to achieve a 100% quality of follow-up. The end point (death) was reached in 67% of the overall population. Statistical analysis was carried out by the Trium Analysis Online corporation, Munich.

RESULTS

The portion of female and older tumor patients increased, more than half of all tumor patients were clearly in stage IV of the disease at first referral. The portion of patients operated on persisted approximately (80%), the portion of additional treatment modalities could be increased considerably. The fact of a bony infiltration by the tumor and the operability remained highly significantly relevant for survival in multivariate analysis, despite of multi-modality treatment. The survival rate of the patients remained significantly dependent on the clinical stage of the disease in multivariate analysis but could be improved by 10% in the clinical stages II and III and in the patients who could not be operated on. All in all, the cutoff date was statistically relevant for survival in multivariate analysis, i.[Symbol: see text]e. the change in the treatment regimen had a verifiable positive effect on the survival of a unicentric overall population.

CONCLUSION

Survival improvement in an overall population via change in treatment strategy is possible in relatively short time; the clinical stages II and III and the non-operable patients have the greatest benefit from a multi-modality treatment.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Sentinel Node or Selective Neck Dissection

Improved knowledge about the metastatic behavior of mucosal squamous cell cancer of the head and neck made it possible to reduce the extension of elective and even therapeutic neck dissections by sparing selected levels, thereby reducing morbidity. The diagnostic question of when to treat a clinically negative neck to avoid unnecessary overtreatment, even through selective neck dissections, might be answered with sentinel lymph node biopsy. A thorough and sophisticated evaluation of this technique is necessary when defining suited patients.

[Organ-preserving treatment in inoperable patients with primary oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma: chances and limitations]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the chances of nonoperative therapy in those patients from an unselected population suffering from primary previously untreated squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and the oropharynx who did not seem to be operable.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Following interdisciplinary counseling and extensive individual discussion, 72 (21%) of 340 consecutive patients (1997-2004) did not or did not reasonably seem to be operable; three other patients with stage II disease refused surgery. Of the inoperable patients, 95%suffered from far-advanced stage IV disease, 8% had distant metastases, 14% had synchronous malignancies, 9% were aged over 85 years combined with advanced malignant disease, and nearly 50% were limited in their activity or were even bedridden. Depending on fitness and tumor extent, three therapy regimens were used: intra-arterial (i.a.) high-dose chemotherapy with systemic antagonization for palliation, induction with this i.a. high-dose chemotherapy followed by additional radiotherapy, and induction with the i.a. high-dose chemotherapy followed by additional radiochemotherapy.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were treated with i.a. chemotherapy alone for palliation with few acute side effects. The response rate was 34%, and a further growth of the tumour could be inhibited in 49%. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 21 and 14%, respectively. The three patients who refused surgery experienced complete clinical remission and survived 8, 6, and 2 years, respectively, to date. Twenty-three patients were fit enough to receive additional radiotherapy, and 17 an additional radiochemotherapy. Of the patients, 22% had to cut short additional radiotherapy and 47% had to discontinue concomitant chemotherapy. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 41 and 25%, respectively; 14 of these irradiated patients experienced long-lasting complete clinical remission >2 years.

CONCLUSION

About 20% of the patients classified as inoperable could achieve long-lasting remission. Viewed with caution, sex (male), performance state (ECOG) <3, and positive response to i.a. chemotherapy could be regarded as predictors for therapeutic success. The combination of i.a. chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy seemed to be most successful. Conversely, the therapies offered could not achieve a substantial improvement of survival in 80% of patients classified as inoperable; the most successful therapy combination could be offered to merely 23% of patients as classified inoperable due to reduced general condition. The i.a. high-dose chemotherapy has to be regarded as a well tolerated and effective palliation. This descriptive analysis must be followed by specific studies to establish clinical treatment recommendations.