Patient perspectives and treatment regret after de‐escalated chemoradiation for human papillomavirus‐positive oropharyngeal cancer: Findings from a phase II trial. Issue 8 (8th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaverdian, Narek; Hegde, John V.; Felix, Carol; Hsu, Sophia; Basehart, Vincent; Steinberg, Michael L.; Chen, Allen M.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 41:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 2768
• Page End: 2776
• Publication Date: 2019-04-08
• Subjects: de‐escalation -- human papillomavirus -- oropharyngeal cancer -- patient perspective -- priorities; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.25760
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: We evaluated priorities, expectations, and regret among patients treated on a phase II trial of de‐escalated chemoradiation for human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive oropharyngeal cancer. Methods: Eligibility included stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, p16‐positivity, age ≥18 years, and Zubrod score 0‐1. Participants were surveyed with validated measures evaluating their treatment experience. Results: Twenty‐four of 27 (89%) patients participated with a median follow‐up of 24 months. Twenty‐three subjects (96%) selected "being cured" or "living as long as possible" as top priority. No patient reported any regret about the decision to enroll on a de‐escalation protocol. Sixteen participants (67%) found retrospectively reported long‐term swallowing function to be either better than or as originally expected. Conclusions: These data offer a baseline landscape of perspectives and priorities for patients treated with de‐escalation for HPV‐positive oropharyngeal carcinoma and provide support to the fundamental premise underlying ongoing efforts to establish a new standard of care.