The Benefit of a Multidisciplinary Approach to the Patient Treated with (Chemo) Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer

Management of Older Adults with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Simple Summary

Approximately one third of patients with head and neck cancer are older adults. The number of older adults with head and neck cancer continues to rise especially as life expectancy increases. However, this population remains significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. Due to this, there is no clear consensus regarding the optimal treatment for older adults with head and neck cancer. In general, older adults are a complex cohort due to variations in functional and performance status, medical comorbidities, and medication management. Treatment for head and neck cancer involves surgery, radiation therapy, systemic therapy, or a combination. These treatments are highly demanding. Additionally, they are associated with toxicity which can be especially difficult for older adults to tolerate. This may lead to treatment interruptions and compromised outcomes. In order to understand the optimal treatment for older adults with head and neck cancer, novel predictive scores are being developed. Additionally, ongoing clinical trials are investigating less intensive treatments for older adults. This review provides an overview of current clinical data, treatment considerations, and future areas of investigation for older adults with head and neck cancer.

Abstract

Thirty percent of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are at least 70 years of age. This number continues to rise as life expectancy continues to increase. Still, older adults with HNSCC remain underrepresented in clinical trials, resulting in ambiguity on optimal management. Older adults are a complex patient population, often requiring increased support due to issues relating to functional and performance status, medical comorbidities, and medication management. Furthermore, in older adults with HNSCC, many of these conditions are independently associated with increased toxicity and worse outcomes. Toxicity in the older adult remains difficult to predict and to understand, and as treatment decisions are based on treatment tolerability, it is essential to understand the toxicities and how to minimize them. Novel predictive scores are being developed specifically for older adults with HNSCC to understand toxicity and to assist in personalized treatment decisions. There are clinical trials presently underway that are investigating shortened radiation courses and novel, less toxic systemic treatments in this population. In the forthcoming sections, we provide a detailed overview of the clinical data, treatment paradigms, and considerations in this population. This review provides a comprehensive overview of existing clinical data and clinical considerations in the older adult head and neck cancer population. Additionally, we provide a detailed overview of pertinent current and ongoing clinical trials, as well as future areas for investigation.

Cancer patient management: role of multidisciplinary teams

OBJECTIVES

As a cancer model recommended by numerous governments and health care systems, multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) can improve clinical decision-making and overall patient care quality. This paper aims to discuss key elements and resources, as well as contingencies for effectiveness MDTs and their meetings.

METHODS

We derived elements, resources, and contingencies for effective MDTs by analyzing articles on the themes of MDTs and MDT meetings.

RESULTS

This paper identifies key elements comprising MDT characteristics, team governance, infrastructure for MDM, MDM organization, MDM logistics, and clinical decision-making in light of patient-centeredness. Resources that facilitate an MDM functioning consist of human resources and non-human resources. The paper further detects barriers to the sustainable performance of MDTs and provide suggestions for improving their functioning in light of patients' and healthcare providers' perspectives.

CONCLUSIONS

MDTs are vital to cancer care through enabling healthcare professionals with diversity of clinical specialties to collaborate and formulate optimal treatment recommendations for patients with suspected or confirmed cancer.

Standardization for oncologic head and neck surgery

The inherent variability in performing specific surgical procedures for head and neck cancer remains a barrier for accurately assessing treatment outcomes, particularly in clinical trials. While non-surgical modalities for cancer therapeutics have evolved to become far more uniform, there remains the challenge to standardize surgery. The purpose of this review is to identify the barriers in achieving uniformity and to highlight efforts by surgical groups to standardize selected operations and nomenclature. While further improvements in standardization will remain a challenge, we must encourage surgical groups to focus on strategies that provide such a level.

Impact of a dedicated radiologist as a member of the head and neck tumour board: a single-institution experience

The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of radiologic image review performed by experienced radiologists in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) for head and neck cancers (HNCs). We performed a retrospective review of cases discussed at MDT meetings from April 2014 to March 2017 for which radiologic review was required. All changes in the former radiologic report were collected and classified as follows: 1) modifications of radiological reports (patients for whom the treatment strategy had not been defined at the moment of MDT meeting) and 2) modifications in treatment strategy (patients for whom treatment strategy had previously been defined and subsequently modified according to the outcome of radiologic revision). The latter subgroup was further categorised as “major changes” and as “minor changes”. A total of 540 cases were retrieved. Imaging review was required at the time of tumour diagnosis in 310 (57.4%) cases. Most patients (69%) had advanced stage tumours (III and IV). In 262 (48%) cases, no change of the initial radiologic report was made. In a total of 144 (27%) cases, the available imaging was not considered sufficient for a final indication to treatment and further imaging was required. In the remaining 134 (25%) cases, radiologic review led to a modification of either tumour staging (55%) or treatment strategy (45%). Specifically, major and minor modifications were applied in 44 (13%) and 17 (11%) of the cases considered, respectively. Among 134 patients for whom the radiologic review led to stage/treatment modification, follow-up was available for 118. In all but one patient, we could confirm the original reports were correctly modified per MDT discussion results. Our data strongly support the importance of including an experienced radiologist as a core member of the MDT for HNCs.

Results of a survey on elderly head and neck cancer patients on behalf of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)

OBJECTIVE

Over the years, evidence-based data and technical improvements have consolidated the central role of radiation therapy (RT) in head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment, even in the elderly. This survey aimed to describe the management of the elderly HNC patients among Italian Radiation Oncology Departments (RODs) and provide possible suggestions for improvement.

METHODS

An online survey based on 43 questions was sent to RODs via email. For each RODs, a radiation oncologist with expertise in HNC was invited to answer questions addressing his/her demographic data, ROD multidisciplinary unit (MU) organisation and ROD management policy in elderly HNC patients.

RESULTS

In total, 68 RODs answered, representing centres located in 16 Italian regions. MU was considered the core of HNC patient management in almost all the entire country. However, in many RODs, there was minimal access to a routinely comprehensive geriatric assessment at diagnosis. Most treatments were reported by respondents as curative (89% on average) and the preferred treatment technique was intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). A considerable variation between RODs was found for RT target volumes. There was a relation between the specialist's years of experience and type of concomitant systemic therapy prescribed.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial differences in elderly HNC management have been found, especially concerning patient clinical evaluation and target volume delineation. This survey shows the necessity to design a prospective national trial to provide a uniform treatment strategy and define an effective patient-centred approach.

Adherence to oral anticancer chemotherapies and estimation of the economic burden associated with unused medicines

Background The list of oral and expensive chemotherapy agents has lengthened over the last few years and has created unique medication adherence concerns. In a real-life setting, patients often do not take their medications as prescribed. This pattern is associated with poor outcomes and increased health care costs. Objectives To estimate the adherence to oral anticancer chemotherapies and to determine the economic burden of unused medicines due to patients' death. Setting Alsace (France). Method This retrospective study was carried out by using ERASME, an Insurance Healthcare database. Main outcome measures Adherence was calculated using medication possession ratio and economic impact using prescription refill data. Results 10,734 patients were treated with oral anticancer medicines (cytotoxic agents, hormonal and targeted therapies). Averaged adherence of 0.86 was observed although it varied significantly between subclasses (cytotoxic agents: 0.69 ± 0.14, hormonal therapy: 0.91 ± 0.17 and targeted therapy: 0.79 ± 0.17). 1631 patients died during the study period. The expenses related to unused chemotherapies amounted to €152,175. Conclusions Our data showed that overall adherence to oral anticancer medicines was above the acceptable limit of adherence of 80% with a marked graduation in values between cytotoxic agents, hormonal and targeted therapies. These statistical significant differences in medication possession ratio could be related to the intrinsic toxicity of the three subclasses of molecules, their tolerance and adverse effects. To limit the cost associated with unused medicines, interventions such as dispensing expensive oral anticancer chemotherapies per unit over shorter periods and not only on monthly intervals could be implement.

Are academic hospitals better at treating metastatic colorectal cancer?

BACKGROUND

There is a strong association between hospital volume and surgical outcomes in resectable colorectal cancer. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between hospital facility type and survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Adults from the National Cancer Database (2010-2015) with a primary diagnosis of colorectal metastases were included and stratified by facility type: community cancer program, comprehensive community cancer program, and academic/research program. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival, analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTS

Among the 52,958 included patients, 13.72% were treated at a community cancer program, 49.89% at a comprehensive community cancer program, and 36.29% at an academic/research program. A significant increase in the proportion of patients being treated in an academic/research program has been observed from 2010 to 2015. An academic/research program tended to use more chemotherapy with colorectal radical resection and liver or lung resection and immunotherapy with chemotherapy. In adjusted analysis, the academic/research program had decreased risk of mortality in comparison to the community cancer program and the comprehensive community cancer program (hazard ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.86-0.94; 0.87, 0.85-0.90; each P < .001; respectively). Similar results were seen after stratifying by metastatic site and treatment type.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis and overall survival of patients with metastatic disease is better in an academic/research program compared with a community cancer program or a comprehensive community cancer program, with this difference persisting across sites of metastatic disease and treatment types. Further studies are required to validate these results and investigate disparities in the management of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Head and Neck Cancer in Belgium: Quality of Diagnostic Management and Variability Across Belgian Hospitals Between 2009 and 2014

Aims: The study assessed the quality of diagnosis and staging offered to patients with a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the variability across Belgian hospitals. Methods: In total, 9,245 patients diagnosed with HNSCC between 2009 and 2014, were identified in the population-based Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR). The BCR data were coupled with other databases providing information on diagnostic and therapeutic procedures reimbursed by the compulsory health insurance, vital status data, and comorbidities. The use of diagnosis and staging procedures was assessed by four quality indicators (QI) (i.e., use of dedicated head and neck imaging studies, use of PET-CT, TNM reporting and interval between diagnosis and start of treatment), for which a target was defined before the analysis. The association between the binary QIs and observed survival was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Overall, 82.5% of patients received staging by MRI and/or CT of the head and neck region before the start of treatment. In 47.6% of stage III-IV patients eligible for treatment with curative intent, a whole-body FDG-PET(/CT) was performed. The proportion of patients whose cTNM and pTNM stage was reported to the BCR was 80.5 and 78.4%, respectively. The median interval from diagnosis to first treatment with curative intent was 32 days (IQR: 19-46). For none of these QIs the pre-set targets were reached and a substantial variability between centers was observed for all quality indicators. No binary QI was significantly associated with observed survival. Conclusions: The four quality indicators related to diagnosis and staging in HNSCC all showed substantial room for improvement. For none of them the pre-set targets were met at the national level and the variability between centers was substantial. Each Belgian hospital received an individual feedback report in order to stimulate reflection and quality improvement processes.

The impact of the multidisciplinary tumor board on head and neck cancer outcomes

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Although the multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB) is accepted as best practice for the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), there is limited evidence showing its impact on survival. Our goal was to investigate the impact of an MTB following the hiring of a fellowship-trained head and neck surgeon and implementation of an MTB at our institution. We hypothesized that these changes would demonstrate an improvement in survival.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

A review of HNSCC treated at our institution between October 2006 and May 2015 was performed. The cohort was divided into pre-MTB (October 2006-February 2011) and post-MTB (February 2011-May 2015) cohorts. Patient demographics, cancer stage, and treatment outcomes were reviewed. Univariate, multivariate, and survival analysis were performed.

RESULTS

The study included 224 patients, 98 in the pre-MTB cohort and 126 in the post-MTB cohort. Of total patients, 139 (62%) were black and 91 (40%) were on Medicaid or uninsured. Average follow-up time was 2.8 years, and most cases were advanced stage (68%). On Kaplan-Meier evaluation, overall survival and disease-specific survival were significantly improved in the post-MTB cohort compared with the pre-MTB cohort, with a 5-year disease-specific survival of 52% vs. 75% (P = .003). A matched cohort analysis showed that the post-MTB cohort had significantly lower risk of death (hazard ratio: 0.48).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that treatment of HNSCC by a dedicated multidisciplinary team results in improved survival. Multidisciplinary care should be considered best practice in the care of HNSCC.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3b Laryngoscope, 130:946-950, 2020.

Retrospective investigation of the prognostic value of the β1 integrin expression in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma receiving primary radio(chemo)therapy

This retrospective study evaluated the expression of β1 integrins and associated proteins as prognostic markers for primary radio(chemo)therapy outcome of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Tissue microarrays were prepared from 224 HNSCC patients undergoing curative primary radio(chemo)therapy from 1996 to 2005. Staining intensities of β1 integrin and its downstream-proteins FAK, phosphorylated FAK as well as the β1 integrin ECM ligands fibronectin and collagen type-I were determined. Their association to the primary endpoint loco-regional control and the secondary endpoints overall survival and freedom from distant metastasis was analyzed by Cox regression. None of the considered molecular parameters showed a significant association with loco-regional control and freedom from distant metastasis. Patients with p16 positive tumors or tumors with a low intensity of fibronectin showed significantly higher overall survival in univariable regression. In multivariable regression including additional clinical parameters, however, these parameters were not significantly associated with overall survival. Our study in a HNSCC patient cohort treated with primary radio(chemo)therapy does not reveal a prognostic value of β1 integrin expression.

Managing older patients with head and neck cancer: The non-surgical curative approach

Managing older patients with head and neck cancers poses a challenge due to the often reduced levels of physiological reserve, the frequent comorbidities and treatment related toxicity. These factors have implications on speech, breathing and swallowing functions. Treatment management plans in these patients may result in de-intensification strategies and as a result of this, use of non-standard treatments is increasing. There have been published reports that indicate the addition of concurrent systemic therapy to radiation in selected older patients is feasible, and produces outcomes comparable with younger patients. However, some other studies including meta-analyses suggest a lack of real survival benefit with the addition of chemotherapy. So, the key point appears to be the optimal patient selection. Appropriate geriatric and frailty assessments are required to help determine the optimal treatment for older patients with head and neck cancer. Treatment for this population still needs to be well defined and optimized in both modality and intensity. Qualitative studies are also required to address short and long-term post-treatment quality-of-life and survivorship issues in this specific patient population. This review summarizes the evidence available regarding the non-surgical management of older patients with head and neck cancers.