The T‐N tract involvement as a new prognostic factor for PORT in locally advanced oral cavity tumors. (6th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alterio, Daniela; Augugliaro, Matteo; Tagliabue, Marta; Bruschini, Roberto; Gandini, Sara; Calabrese, Luca; Belloni, Pietro; Preda, Lorenzo; Maffini, Fausto Antonio; Marvaso, Giulia; Ferrari, Annamaria; Volpe, Stefania; Zerella, Maria Alessia; Oneta, Olga; Turturici, Irene; Alessandro, Ombretta; Ruju, Francesca; Ansarin, Mohssen; Orecchia, Roberto; Jereczek‐Fossa, Barbara Alicja
• Is Part Of: Oral diseases. Volume 29:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2021-05-06
• Subjects: oral cavity cancers -- postoperative radiotherapy -- T‐N tract; Mouth -- Diseases -- Research -- Periodicals; 617.522
• DOI: 10.1111/odi.13885
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-523X

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The space comprised between tumor and neck lymph nodes (T‐N tract) is one of the main routes of tumor spread in oral cavity tumors. Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of T‐N tract involvement on the postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) outcomes. Materials and Methods: Patients (pts) treated between 2000 and 2016 with indication to PORT were retrospectively retrieved. Inclusion criteria were: (a) locally advanced tumors of the oral cavity, (b) who received with indication to PORT (c) with a minimum follow‐up of six months. Results: One hundred and fifty‐seven pts met the inclusion criteria (136 pts treated with PORT and 21 pts not treated with PORT). In the PORT cohort, the T‐N tract involvement had no impact on both OS ( p = .09) and LRFS ( p = .2). Among the non‐PORT cohort, both OS ( p = .007) and LRFS ( p = .017) were worse for pts with positive T‐N tract compared to those with negative T‐N tract. PORT improved both OS ( p = .008) and LRFS ( p = .003) in pts with positive T‐N tract but not in those with negative T‐N tract ( p = .36 and p = .37, respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest that involvement of T‐N tract should be considered as prognostic factors informing the indication to PORT.