Effect of postoperative radiotherapy in pT1pN1cM0 and pT2p/cN0cM0 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. (22nd August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kadletz, Lorenz; Heiduschka, Gregor; Wolf, Axel; Haug‐Lettenbichler, Anna; Poyntner, Lukas; Primosch, Thomas; Rogatsch, Hermann; Formanek, Michael; Stadler, Matthias; Kenner, Lukas; Eckel, Hans E.; Brunner, Markus
• Is Part Of: Laryngoscope. Volume 128:Number 5(2018)
• Page Start: 1075
• Page End: 1082
• Publication Date: 2017-08-22
• Subjects: Oropharyngeal carcinoma -- T1N1 -- T2N0 -- adjuvant radiotherapy -- postoperative radiotherapy -- survival; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.26815
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-852X

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives/Hypothesis: Consulting of patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma, classified as pT1pN1cM0 and pT2p/cN0cM0, about postoperative radiotherapy is a precarious task as data are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of postoperative radiotherapy for patients with intermediate‐stage oropharyngeal carcinoma. Study Design: Multicentric retrospective study. Methods: This analysis was conducted at seven Austrian institutions and included data of patients treated between 2000 and 2012. A total of 81 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were included, of whom 33 patients received postoperative radiotherapy. p16 status determined by immunohistochemistry was available in 68 patients. Results: Median follow‐up was 47.9 months. Postoperative radiotherapy showed no benefits in regard to overall survival ( P = .701). In contrast, disease‐free survival was significantly shortened in all patients without postoperative radiotherapy ( P = .001). When dividing the cohort in dependence of p16, p16‐positive patients did not benefit from postoperative radiotherapy regarding overall and disease‐free survival ( P = .934 and P = .102), whereas p16‐negative patients showed improved disease‐free survival after postoperative radiotherapy ( P = .007). Multivariate analysis showed that outcome of postoperative radiotherapy is dependent on p16 status. Conclusions: In terms of disease‐free survival, patients with p16‐negative tumors may benefit from postoperative radiotherapy, whereas survival of p16‐positive patients is good regardless of additional treatment. Level of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1075–1082, 2018