The effect of low hemoglobin levels on outcomes of radiotherapy following microscopically complete resection of locally advanced SCCHN: Implications for the future

Cetuximab and anemia prevention in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation is associated with increased production of interleukin 6 (IL6), which is intensified by radiotherapy (RT) induced inflammatory response. Elevated IL6 levels intensifies RT-induced anemia by upregulating hepcidin causing functional iron deficiency. Cetuximab, an EGFR inhibitor, has been associated with lower rates of anemia for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We hypothesized that concomitant cetuximab could prevent RT-induced anemia.

METHODS

We queried our institutional head and neck cancers database for non-metastatic HNSCC cases that received RT with concomitant cetuximab or RT-only between 2006 and 2018. Cetuximab was administered for some high-risk cases medically unfit for platinum agents per multidisciplinary team evaluation. We only included patients who had at least one complete blood count in the 4 months preceding and after RT. We compared the prevalence of anemia (defined as hemoglobin (Hb) below 12 g/dL in females and 13 g/dL in males) and mean Hb levels at baseline and after RT. Improvement of anemia/Hb (resolution of baseline anemia and/or an increase of baseline Hb ≥1 g/dL after RT), and overall survival (OS) in relation to anemia/Hb dynamics were also compared.

RESULTS

A total of 171 patients were identified equally distributed between cetuximab-plus-RT and RT-only groups. The cetuximab-plus-RT group had more locally-advanced stage, oropharyngeal and high grade tumors (p < 0.001 for all). Baseline anemia/Hb were similar, however anemia after RT conclusion was higher in the cetuximab-plus-RT vs RT-only (63.5% vs. 44.2%; p = 0.017), with a mean Hb of 11.98 g/dL vs. 12.9 g/dL; p = 0.003, for both respectively. This contributed to significantly worse anemia/Hb improvement for cetuximab-plus-RT (18.8% vs. 37.2%; p = 0.007). This effect was maintained after adjusting for other factors in multivariate analysis. The prevalence of iron, vitamin-B12 and folate deficiencies; and chronic kidney disease, was non-different. Baseline anemia was associated with worse OS (p = 0.0052) for the whole study cohort. Nevertheless, improvement of anemia/Hb was only marginally associated with better OS (p = 0.068).

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to previous studies, cetuximab was not associated with lower rates of anemia after RT for nonmetastatic HNSCC patients compared to RT-alone. Dedicated prospective studies are needed to elucidate the effect of cetuximab on RT-induced anemia.

Relationship between anemia and oral cancer: a case-control study

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence, type and severity of anemia at the time of diagnosis of oral cancer, and its potential association with the degree of tumor cell differentiation. This case-control study used 366 medical records of patients treated at two referral centers for oral cancer diagnosis, specifically: cases (n=70) with a histopathological diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the oral cavity, and controls (n=296) with benign oral lesions. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables of both groups, as well as complete blood count values, were analyzed by descriptive statistics and crude/adjusted logistic regression. Anemia was detected in 15.7% of the cases and 11.8% of the controls. The presence of anemia had an OR=1.64 (odds ratio) (95%CI 0.54-5.00) for OSCC, with no significantly statistical association. Normocytic anemia was the most prevalent form of anemia when oral cancer was diagnosed (91.4% of the controls and 72.7% of the cases), and moderate to severely low hemoglobin levels were associated with OSCC diagnosis (OR 6.49; 95%CI 1.18-35.24), albeit data on hematological examinations were missing.

Management of anaemia and blood in patients having neck dissections or free flaps for head and neck cancer

Our main aims were to assess haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations from preoperative assessment to discharge from hospital, and to review which patients had blood transfusions and compliance with national transfusion guidelines. We studied a consecutive series of 131 patients between October 2016 and September 2017 who had either neck dissection or resection and free microvascular tissue transfer. Half the patients had soft tissue free flaps (n = 65), 26% had composite free flaps (n = 34), and 24% neck dissection only (n = 32). Using the WHO definition of anaemia, 4% (1/28) of patients who had neck dissections and 19% (16/85) of those who had free flaps were anaemic preoperatively. The median (IQR) Hb at discharge was 131 (119-144) g/L for patients who had neck dissections, 103 (95-114) g/L for those who had soft free flaps, and 95 (90-104) g/L for those who had composite free flaps. No patients who had neck dissection were given a red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, whereas they were given to 26/99 (26%) of those who had free flaps. Hb concentrations were checked after each unit in 31/39 transfusions (79%). Concentrations for those who had free flaps fell by about 30 g/L from admission to operation, and only four patients were given tranexamic acid peroperatively. Postoperatively Hb remained at similar concentrations until discharge, with 23/98 (24%) given iron orally on discharge. In terms of compliance with blood transfusion guidelines there was a notable absence of the use of tranexamic acid and of iron intravenously. An increase in their use could potentially reduce the number of blood transfusions required and the postoperative incidence of anaemia, and have a favourable effect on outcomes such as complications, fatigue, and overall quality of life.