Treatment modalities and outcomes of Fanconi anemia patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Series of 9 cases and review of the literature. Issue 5 (11th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beckham, Thomas H.; Leeman, Jonathan; Jillian Tsai, Chiaojung; Riaz, Nadeem; Sherman, Eric; Singh, Bhuvanesh; Lee, Nancy; McBride, Sean; Higginson, Daniel S.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 41:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 1418
• Page End: 1426
• Publication Date: 2019-01-11
• Subjects: cetuximab -- Fanconi anemia -- head and neck cancer -- radiation therapy; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.25577
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Fanconi anemia (FA) is associated with an increased risk of developing head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and presents a treatment dilemma due to concerns of increased toxicities from chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT). Methods: We reviewed the literature on HNSCC in FA patients and report on our experience treating 9 FA patients with HNSCC. Results: Surgery was generally well‐tolerated and surgery alone resulted in durable local control for 2 patients. Four patients received adjuvant RT that was tolerable in most cases, although 1 patient required a treatment break and early cessation of RT. Three of the irradiated patients received concurrent cetuximab. Conclusions: In patients with adverse features, adjuvant radiation with concurrent cetuximab may be feasible with careful monitoring, although local disease control is infrequent. Early detection via screening permitting a surgery‐alone approach represents the best opportunity for cure in FA patients with HSNCC.