Organ preservation after treatment with induction chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced carcinomas (T3-T4) of oral cavity and oropharynx

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

With the goal of achieving functional preservation, one of the treatment strategies for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck is to initiate treatment with induction chemotherapy (CT) and decide the second therapeutic manoeuvre depending on the response. The objective of this study is to evaluate organ preservation capacity based on this therapeutic approach in patients with tumours of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 246 patients with locally advanced carcinomas of the oral cavity or oropharynx (cT3-T4) initially treated with induction CT.

RESULTS

After induction CT 28% of patients achieved a complete response of the primary location of the tumour, 43.1% a partial response greater than 50%, and 28.9% a reduction less than 50% or persistence. After the induction CT treatment 70 patients (28.5%) underwent surgical treatment, and 176 (71.5%) radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Considering the patients treated non-surgically (n=176), organ preservation for patients with a complete response (n=66) was 65.2%, for those patients with a partial response greater than 50% (n=75) it was 30.7%, and for patients with a partial response less than 50% or persistence (n=35) it was 14.3%.

CONCLUSION

The response to treatment with induction CT has prognostic value in patients with locally advanced carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Patients who are candidates for conservative treatment with RT or CRT would be those who achieve a complete response after induction treatment.

Organ preservation in patients with advanced laryngeal tumours. Results of induction chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy in actual clinical practice

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

A high percentage of patients with locally advanced larynx carcinomas are candidates for inclusion in organ preservation protocols. The objective of this study is to compare the results of two schemes of preservation, induction chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy, in patients with locally advanced larynx carcinomas in the context of actual clinical practice.

METHODS

Our retrospective study included 157 patients with locally advanced tumours of the larynx (T3-T4) treated with induction chemotherapy (n = 121) or chemoradiotherapy (n = 36).

RESULTS

From 121 patients who began treatment with induction chemotherapy, 6 died due to toxicity, 37 were treated with surgery, and 78 completed the preservation scheme; 36 patients received treatment with chemoradiotherapy. There were no significant differences in 5-year disease-specific survival between both treatments: 68.9% in induction chemotherapy versus 75.7% in chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.259). In 45.9% of patients the laryngeal function was preserved. Patients treated with chemoradiotherapy had a tendency to have better 5-year laryngeal dysfunction-free survival than patients treated with induction chemotherapy (55.6% versus 44.8%, p = 0.079).

CONCLUSION

Patients included in a protocol of organ preservation achieved a 5-year laryngeal dysfunction-free survival of 45.9%. There were no significant differences in disease-specific survival among patients treated with induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer and quality of life. Systematic review

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The objective was the comparison of the quality of life in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer treated with organ preservation versus surgical treatment.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review in the databases MedLine, EMBASE, and PubMed (2014 1991) and Web of Science (2012 - 2014). The search terms were: Laryngeal cancer, organ preservation, chemotherapy, laryngectomy, treatment outcomes and quality of life. Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, reports of health technology assessment and comparative studies with control group, published in Spanish, French or English were included. The selection and quality assessment was made by two researchers. The criteria of the Cochrane Collaboration were used to assess the risk of bias and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) for the level of evidence.

RESULTS

Of the 208 studies identified in the search, three were included a clinical trial and two observational studies, with a total of 211 patients. Quality and level of evidence was low. The results were contradictory, on occasion they favoured surgery, and on other occasions chemotherapy, but in general there were no statistical differences between the treatments. The studies were heterogeneous, with different methodology, undersized, limitations in quality with high risk of bias and use of different measurement scales.

CONCLUSIONS

There are not enough studies of quality to establish differences in the quality of life in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer according to the treatment received.

Transoral laser microsurgery as standard approach to hypopharyngeal cancer. Survival analysis in a hospital based population

OBJECTIVE

Cancer of the hypopharynx remains one of the most challenging chapters in head and neck oncology. The objective of this study is to ascertain the relevance of a transoral laser approach as a valid functional option for treatment of cancer of the hypopharynx in Portugal, and additionally, to confirm the reproducibility of survival and functional outcomes described in other reference centers.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The outcomes of 37 out of 60 patients presenting hypopharyngeal carcinoma primarily treated by TLM (transoral laser microsurgery) and neck dissection and or adjuvant treatment when needed, with curative intention in tertiary referral center, were retrospectively evaluated and compared with published results.

RESULTS

There were no patients in stage I. Three-year and five-year overall survival (Kaplan-Meier) were 83.5% and 63.5% for stage II (n=12), 57.1% (only 3-year overall survival evaluable for this stage) for stage III (n=7), and 53.1% and 39.8% for stage IVa (n=18), respectively. Five-year local control rates were 90% for stage II and 87.5% for stage IVa, respectively; only three-year local control rates were possible to evaluate for stage III, with a 100% control rate. Five-year total larynx preservation rate was 97.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

TLM, alone or with neck dissection and adjuvant therapy, is a valid procedure for treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer in different stages. Furthermore, this kind of approach can be replicated in different oncologic centers with similar oncologic and functional results.

Results of total laryngectomy as treatment for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Total laryngectomy (TL), with eventual postoperative radiotherapy, has proven to be effective in treating cases of locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. The aim of this study was to analyse the oncological outcomes of this procedure in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer classified T3 and T4.

METHODS

We studied 59 patients (33 T3 and 26 T4a) with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated with TL from 1998 to 2012.

RESULTS

Mean age was 61 years with a male predominance (96.6%). All the patients were smokers and 96% consumed alcohol. Unilateral selective neck dissection (ND) was performed in 12 patients, unilateral radical ND in 11 patients, bilateral selective ND in 20 patients and radical ND plus selective ND in 14 patients. 66% of the patients received postoperative radiotherapy. Lymph node metastases occurred in 81% of the patients and extranodal invasion in 56% of them. 29% of the patients had loco-regional recurrence, 17% developed distant metastases, and 25% a second primary tumour. The 5-year disease-specific survival was 46%.

CONCLUSIONS

TL extended to pharynx (with eventual postoperative radiotherapy) offers good oncological results in terms of loco-regional control and survival in locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer, so organ preservation protocols should achieve similar oncological results to those shown by TL.