Supervivencia de cirugía de rescate en carcinoma escamoso de orofaringe / Survival outcomes of salvage surgery in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

La recurrencia de carcinoma de células escamosas orofaríngeo (CCEOF) se asocia a mal pronóstico, particularmente en recurrencias en etapa avanzada. La cirugía en el contexto de rescate es más complicada por el tratamiento oncológico del tumor primario, por lo tanto, tiene un mayor riesgo de complicaciones y estadía hospitalaria. Sin embargo, la cirugía de rescate es la mejor oportunidad del paciente como tratamiento curativo y para supervivencia a largo plazo. La población de pacientes que reciben tratamiento para CCEOF ha cambiado en la última década, se ha reconocido que la incidencia de virus papiloma humano (VPH) asociado a CCEOF ha generado el gran aumento de CCEOF y el cambio asociado en las características de la población de pacientes, ahora los pacientes son más jóvenes y tienen menos comorbilidades. Con el aumento exponencial en la incidencia de CCEOF, la necesidad de cirugía de rescate en CCEOF podría verse en aumento. En vista del aumento de la incidencia de casos con carcinoma escamoso de orofaringe y su importante relación con el VPH, esta revisión se enfoca en la supervivencia tras cirugía de rescate con intención curativa y evaluar si con los avances en su tratamiento ha mejorado su pronóstico.

Recurrence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with poor prognosis, particularly in advanced stage recurrences. Salvage surgery is complicated by previous oncological treatment of the primary tumor, therefore, it has a higher risk of complications and hospital stay. However, salvage surgery is the patient's best opportunity as a curative treatment and for long-term survival. The population of patients receiving treatment for OPSCC has changed in the last decade, it has been recognized that the incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) associated OPSCC has generated an increase of OPSCC and changes in the epidemiology of the patient population, with younger patients and with less comorbidities. With the exponential increase in the incidence of OPSCC, the need for salvage surgery in OPSCC could increase in the future. In view of the increase in the incidence of cases with squamous oropharyngeal carcinoma and its relationship with HPV, this review focuses on survival after salvage surgery with curative intent and assessing whether the progress in its treatment has improved its prognosis.

An alternative approach with a low dose and prolonged chemotherapy for palliative treatment of locally advanced, metastatic or recurrent squamous cell head and neck cancer

Background: It is expected that about 65,000 new patients will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2017 in the United States. Patients with recurrent or advanced or metastatic head and neck do not have good survival due to aggressive and recurrent nature of this cancer. Moreover, cumulative and residual toxicities from previous and ongoing treatments significantly impede quality of remaining part of their life. Currently available chemotherapeutic regimens for this group are derived from the treatments used for the potentially curable disease. These regimens and associated toxicity are obviously not the best matches for the treatment with palliative intent. We here present a retrospective study where we used dose-adjusted chemotherapy specifically for palliative treatment this sub-group of head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Study population was identified from the University of Florida, and IRB approval was obtained. We used currently available and approved chemotherapeutic agents (including Taxols, Platins, 5-Fluorouracil and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor inhibitors) for treatment of head and neck cancer but dose-adjusted at approximate 50% dose of currently recommended doses. We then gave personalized doses for a prolonged period by titrating doses based on response and tolerability of each patient. Data was collected for treatment, response, side effects, and outcomes. KM analysis was performed for survival data. Results: Total of 32 patients were included in this study with a median age of 65.2 years and a median follow-up of 10.1 months. 62.5% (n = 20) had locally advanced disease and rest had metastatic disease. 37.5% (n = 12) had new disease while rest had recurrent cancer. Of 32 patients, 14 patients received TPF based while 18 patients received PFE based chemotherapy. Total of 270 chemotherapy cycles were delivered among these 32 patients. They received a median of 9 cycles (range 3­14) over a median of 6.2 months (range 1.8­21.1). With this treatment approach, we noted median progression-free survival of 14.0 months and median overall survival of 15.7 months. Notable grade 3 toxicities were generalized fatigue in 12.5% (n = 4), nausea/vomiting in 6.3% (n = 2), diarrhea in in 6.3% (n = 2), mouth soreness in 6.3% (n = 2), rash in 3.1% (n = 1), neutropenia in 18% (n = 6) and anemia in 15.6% (n = 5) while notable grade 4 toxicities were neutropenia and anaphylaxis in 3.1% (n = 1) patient each (AU)

Re-irradiation of unresectable recurrent head and neck cancer: using Helical Tomotherapy as image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy

PURPOSE: Re-irradiation (re-RT) is considered a treatment option for inoperable locoregionally recurrent head and neck cancer (HNC) after prior radiotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of re-RT using Helical Tomotherapy as image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy in recurrent HNC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with recurrent HNC and received re-RT were retrospectively reviewed. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and secondary endpoints were locoregional control and toxicities. RESULTS: The median follow-up period of total 9 patients was 18.7 months (range, 4.1 to 76 months) and that of 3 alive patients was 49 months (range, 47 to 76 months). Median dose of first radiotherapy and re-RT was 64.8 and 47.5 Gy10. Median cumulative dose of the two courses of radiotherapy was 116.3 Gy10 (range, 91.8 to 128.9 Gy10) while the median interval between the two courses of radiation was 25 months (range, 4 to 137 months). The response rate after re-RT of the evaluated 8 patients was 75% (complete response, 4; partial response, 2). Median locoregional relapse-free survival after re-RT was 11.9 months (range, 3.4 to 75.1 months) and 5 patients eventually presented with treatment failure (in-field failure, 2; in- and out-field failure, 2; out-field failure, 1). Median OS of the 8 patients was 20.3 months (range, 4.1 to 75.1 months). One- and two-year OS rates were 62.5% and 50%, respectively. Grade 3 leucopenia developed in one patient as acute toxicity, and grade 2 osteonecrosis and trismus as chronic toxicity in another patient. CONCLUSION: Re-RT using Helical Tomotherapy for previously irradiated patients with unresectable locoregionally recurrent HNC may be a feasible treatment option with long-term survival and acceptable toxicities.