Postoperative (Chemo)Radiotherapy for Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Outcomes and Patterns of Failure

Contralateral Nodal Relapse in Well-lateralised Oral Cavity Cancers Treated Uniformly with Ipsilateral Surgery and Adjuvant Radiotherapy With or Without Concurrent Chemotherapy: a Retrospective Study

AIMS

To evaluate the incidence and pattern of contralateral nodal relapse (CLNR), contralateral nodal relapse-free survival (CLNRFS) and risk factors predicting CLNR in well-lateralised oral cavity cancers (OCC) treated with unilateral surgery and adjuvant ipsilateral radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients of well-lateralised OCC treated between 2012 and 2017 were included. The primary endpoint was incidence of CLNR and CLNRFS. Univariable and multivariable analyses were carried out to identify potential factors predicting CLNR.

RESULTS

Of the 208 eligible patients, 21 (10%) developed isolated CLNR at a median follow-up of 45 months. The incidence of CLNR was 21.3% in node-positive patients. CLNR was most common at level IB (61.9%) followed by level II. The 5-year CLNRFS and overall survival were 82.5% and 57.7%, respectively. Any positive ipsilateral lymph node (P = 0.001), two or more positive lymph nodes (P < 0.001), involvement of ipsilateral level IB (P = 0.002) or level II lymph node (P < 0.001), presence of extranodal extension (P < 0.001), lymphatic invasion (P = 0.015) and perineural invasion (P = 0.021) were significant factors for CLNR on univariable analysis. The presence of two or more positive lymph nodes (P < 0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for CLNR on multivariable analysis. CLNR increased significantly with each increasing lymph node number beyond two compared with node-negative patients.

CONCLUSION

The overall incidence of isolated CLNR is low in well-lateralised OCC. Patients with two or more positive lymph nodes have a higher risk of CLNR and may be considered for elective treatment of contralateral neck.

Reconstructive flap surgery in head and neck cancer patients: an interdisciplinary view of the challenges encountered by radiation oncologists in postoperative radiotherapy

Background

Major advances have been made in reconstructive surgery in the last decades to reduce morbidity in head and neck cancer. Flaps are now present in 80% of patients with oral cavity cancer to cover anatomic, functional, and cosmetic needs. However, gaps in interdisciplinary innovation transfer from surgery to postoperative radiotherapy (poRT) remain challenging. We aimed to provide an interdisciplinary view of the challenges encountered by radiation oncologists in planning head and neck postoperative radiotherapy.

Methods

A systematic and critical review was conducted to address areas of optimization in surgery and radiology that may be relevant to poRT.

Results

Despite extensive surgical literature on flap techniques and salvage surgery, 13 retrospective series were identified, where flap outcomes were indirectly compared between surgery alone or poRT. These low-evidence studies suggest that radiotherapy accelerates flap atrophy, fibrosis, and osteoradionecrosis and deteriorates functional outcomes. Preliminary evidence suggests that tumor spread occurs at the flap-tissue junction rather than in the flaps. One prospective 15-patient study showed 31.3% vs. 39.2% flap volume reduction without or with poRT. In an international consensus, experts recognized the needs for optimized flap-sparing poRT against flap-related functional deterioration and bone damage. CT, MRI, and PET-CT modalities show potential for the delineation of the junction area between native tissues and flap for flap segmentation and to characterize flap-specific changes quantitatively and correlate them with patterns of relapse or complications.

Conclusion

Flap management in poRT is insufficiently documented, but poRT seems to damage flaps. Current gaps in knowledge underscore the need for prospective flap assessment and interdisciplinary trials investigating flap morbidity minimization by flap-sparing poRT planning.

Association of ipsilateral radiation therapy with contralateral lymph node failure in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ipsilateral neck radiotherapy (INRT) is controversial in some patients with oral cavity cancer due to concern for contralateral neck failure (CNF).

METHODS

A systematic review was performed and data were extracted following PRISMA guidelines. Outcomes were the rate of CNF following INRT and the rates of CNF by AJCC 7th ed. tumor and nodal staging.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies consisting of 1825 patients were identified. Among the 805 patients treated with INRT, the rate of CNF was 5.7%. Patients with T4 tumors constituted 56% of all CNF cases. The rate of CNF increased by N stage (N0: 1.2%; N1: 3.8%; N2-N3: 17.4%) and was significantly higher for patients with N2-N3 than N0-N1 disease (p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

INRT is associated with an overall low risk of CNF in well-selected patients with N0-N1 disease. Patients with N2-3 and/or T4 disease should receive bilateral RT due to increased risk of CNF following INRT.

X-ray and MR Contrast Bearing Nanoparticles Enhance the Therapeutic Response of Image-Guided Radiation Therapy for Oral Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is constrained by radiotoxicity to normal tissue. We demonstrate 100 nm theranostic nanoparticles for image-guided radiation therapy planning and enhancement in rat head and neck squamous cell carcinoma models.

METHODS

PEG conjugated theranostic nanoparticles comprising of Au nanorods coated with Gadolinium oxide layers were tested for radiation therapy enhancement in 2D cultures of OSC-19-GFP-luc cells, and orthotopic tongue xenografts in male immunocompromised Salt sensitive or SS rats via both intratumoral and intravenous delivery. The radiation therapy enhancement mechanism was investigated.

RESULTS

Theranostic nanoparticles demonstrated both X-ray/magnetic resonance contrast in a dose-dependent manner. Magnetic resonance images depicted optimal tumor-to-background uptake at 4 h post injection. Theranostic nanoparticle + Radiation treated rats experienced reduced tumor growth compared to controls, and reduction in lung metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Theranostic nanoparticles enable preprocedure radiotherapy planning, as well as enhance radiation treatment efficacy for head and neck tumors.

Adding Concomitant Chemotherapy to Postoperative Radiotherapy in Oral Cavity Carcinoma with Minor Risk Factors: Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis

When presenting with major pathological risk factors, adjuvant radio-chemotherapy for oral cavity cancers (OCC) is recommended, but the addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy (POCRT) when only minor pathological risk factors are present is controversial. A systematic review following the PICO-PRISMA methodology (PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42021267498) was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries. Studies assessing outcomes of POCRT in patients with solely minor risk factors (perineural invasion or lymph vascular invasion; pN1 single; DOI ≥ 5 mm; close margin < 2−5 mm; node-positive level IV or V; pT3 or pT4; multiple lymph nodes without ENE) were evaluated. A meta-analysis technique with a single-arm study was performed. Radiotherapy was combined with chemotherapy in all studies. One study only included patients treated with POCRT. In the other 12 studies, patients were treated with only PORT (12,883 patients) and with POCRT (10,663 patients). Among the patients treated with POCRT, the pooled 3 year OS rate was 72.9% (95%CI: 65.5−79.2%); the pooled 3 year DFS was 70.9% (95%CI: 48.8−86.2%); and the pooled LRFS was 69.8% (95%CI: 46.1−86.1%). Results are in favor of POCRT in terms of OS but not significant for DFS and LRFS, probably due to the heterogeneity of the included studies and a combination of different prognostic factors.

The T-N tract involvement as a new prognostic factor for PORT in locally advanced oral cavity tumors

OBJECTIVE

The space comprised between tumor and neck lymph nodes (T-N tract) is one of the main routes of tumor spread in oral cavity tumors. Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of T-N tract involvement on the postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients (pts) treated between 2000 and 2016 with indication to PORT were retrospectively retrieved. Inclusion criteria were: (a) locally advanced tumors of the oral cavity, (b) who received with indication to PORT (c) with a minimum follow-up of six months.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-seven pts met the inclusion criteria (136 pts treated with PORT and 21 pts not treated with PORT). In the PORT cohort, the T-N tract involvement had no impact on both OS (p = .09) and LRFS (p = .2). Among the non-PORT cohort, both OS (p = .007) and LRFS (p = .017) were worse for pts with positive T-N tract compared to those with negative T-N tract. PORT improved both OS (p = .008) and LRFS (p = .003) in pts with positive T-N tract but not in those with negative T-N tract (p = .36 and p = .37, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that involvement of T-N tract should be considered as prognostic factors informing the indication to PORT.

Adjuvant contralateral neck irradiation for oral cavity cancer - A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Whether contralateral neck irradiation should be administered for oral cavity cancer is a critical question because patients receiving bilateral neck irradiation experience more adverse effects. Patients not receiving contralateral neck irradiation are at risk of contralateral neck recurrence of oral cavity cancer MATERIALS AND METHODS: Meta-analysis and subgroup analysis were performed for the rates of contralateral neck recurrence of oral cavity cancer in patients receiving no contralateral neck radiation. We aimed to identify the patient group suitable for contralateral neck radiotherapy omission. The PRISMA guideline was used for this study. We extracted data including the first author, country, sample size, numbers of patients receiving ipsilateral neck radiotherapy and experiencing contralateral neck recurrence, participant characteristics, and details of cancer types RESULTS: The rate of contralateral neck recurrence is extremely low, 3.4% (95% confidence interval: 2.2%-5.4%). Isolated contralateral neck recurrence occurred in 18 of 524 patients receiving radiotherapy to the primary tumor site with or without ipsilateral irradiation. The subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate pathological lymph node stage and subsite. Subgroup analysis showed that the N2-3 group was more likely to exhibit recurrence in contralateral neck than the N0-1 group was (14.4% versus 1.5%, p = 0.0008). In addition, the contralateral neck recurrence rate was 6.3% (95% CI = 2.3%-13.1%) and 2.8% (95% CI = 1.5%-4.8%), in the tongue cancer patient group and the non-tongue cancer patient group, respectively. Meta-regression showed that the rate of contralateral recurrence was not different between both groups (p = 0.08). Only 2 exhibited isolated contralateral neck recurrence (5.1%) in pN0-1 tongue cancer patient. Most of them (>90%) are lateralized.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the omission of contralateral irradiation is reasonable in pN0-1, well lateralized oral cavity cancer.

The role of adjuvant (chemo-)radiotherapy in oral cancers in the contemporary era

Squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity (OSCC) is predominantly managed with surgery. Post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) and chemoradiotherapy (POCRT) enhance disease control in OSCC patients with adverse anatomic and pathologic primary and nodal features. Knowledge about disease behavior, surgery and radiotherapy advances, and the emergence of new systemic agents prompt refinement of PORT volumes and POCRT regimens. Traditional and emerging prognostic models that include adverse histopathological features underpin such approaches. This review summarizes research over recent decades with emphasis on the 2015 to Feb 2019 period describing: (1) Indications for PORT and/or POCRT, addressing surgical "margin status" including the definition of a "clear" margin to permit withholding PORT/POCRT; these concepts include characterizing the specimen yielding these measurements, the optimal time point to assess these findings, and the putative value of a "revised margin" performed during the same operative procedure, (2) Emerging prognostic factors including nodal burden (total number of involved lymph nodes) and perineural invasion, (3) PORT volume design, dose/fractionation and optimal surgery-to-PORT interval, (4) Chemotherapy dose, schedule, and agents, and (5) On-going clinical trials involving systemic agents and combinations of chemotherapy with immunotherapy.

Prognostic factors, failure patterns and survival analysis in patients with resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

PURPOSE

There is sparse literature on treatment outcomes research on resectable oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). The aim of this study was to measure the treatment outcomes, explore the failure patterns, and identify the potential clinicopathological prognostic factors affecting treatment outcomes for resectable OTSCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It is a retrospective analysis of 202 patients with resectable OTSCC who underwent upfront primary surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy if indicated.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 35.2 months (range, 1.2 to 99.9 months). The median duration of locoregional control (LRC) was 84.9 months (95% confidence interval, 67.3-102.4). The 3- and 5-year LRC rate was 68.5% and 58.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that increasing pT stage, increasing pN stage, and the presence of extracapsular extension (ECE) were significantly associated with poorer LRC. The median duration of overall survival (OS) was not reached at the time of analysis. The 3- and 5-year OS rate was 70.5% and 66.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that increasing pT stage and the presence of ECE were significantly associated with a poorer OS.

CONCLUSION

Locoregional failure remains the main cause of treatment failure in resectable OTSCC. There is scope to further improve prognosis considering modest LRC and OS. Pathological T-stage, N-stage, and ECE are strong prognostic factors. Further research is required to confirm whether adjuvant therapy adds to treatment outcomes in cases with lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and depth of invasion, and help clinicians tailoring adjuvant therapy.

Patterns of locoregional failure following post-operative intensity-modulated radiotherapy to oral cavity cancer: quantitative spatial and dosimetric analysis using a deformable image registration workflow

Background

We sought to identify spatial/dosimetric patterns of failure for oral cavity cancer patients receiving post-operative IMRT (PO-IMRT).

Methods

Two hundred eighty-nine OCC patients receiving PO-IMRT were retrospectively reviewed from 2000 to 2012. Diagnostic CT documenting recurrence (rCT) was co-registered with planning CT (pCT) using a validated deformable image registration software. Manually segmented recurrent gross disease (rGTV) was deformed to co-registered pCTs. Mapped rGTVs were compared dosimetrically to planned dose and spatially to planning target volumes using centroid-based approaches. Failures types were classified using combined spatial/dosimetric criteria: A (central high-dose), B (peripheral high-dose), C (central intermediate/low-dose), D (peripheral intermediate/low-dose), and E (extraneous-dose).

Results

Fifty-four patients with recurrence were analyzed; 26 local recurrence, 19 regional recurrence, and 9 both local and regional recurrence. Median time to recurrence was 4 months (range 0–71). Median rGTVs volume was 3.7 cm³ (IQR 1.4–10.6). For spatial and dosimetric analysis of the patterns of failure, 30 patients (55.5%) were classified as type A (central high-dose). Non-central high dose failures were distributed as follows: 2 (3.7%) type B, 10 (18.5%) type C, 1 (1.8%) type D, and 9 (16.7%) type E. Non-IMRT failure in the matching low-neck field was seen in two patients. No failures were noted at the IMRT-supraclavicular field match-line.

Conclusions

Approximately half of patients with local/regional failure had non-central high dose recurrence. Peripheral high dose misses were uncommon reflecting adequate delineation and dose delivery. Future strategies are needed to reduce types C and E failures.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13014-017-0868-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.