RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Transoral surgical resectability (TOS) is a prognostic factor for patients with HPV+ T1-2 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) disease undergoing radiotherapy (RT), but it is unclear whether this holds for HPV-negative (HPV-) patients. We aimed to compare outcomes of potential TOS-candidates vs. non-TOS candidates, among patients who underwent RT/CRT for early T-stage HPV- OPSCC. METHODS: For patients treated with RT/CRT for early T-stage HPV-negative OPSCC between 2014 and 2021, pretreatment imaging was reviewed by four head-and-neck surgeons, masked to clinical outcomes, to assess primary-site suitability for TOS. Extracapsular extension (ECE) was assessed by a head-and-neck neuroradiologist. We compared outcomes based on surgical resectability relating to: (1) the primary site tumor alone, and (2) the primary site plus the absence/presence of ECE (overall assessment). Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included in the analysis. The primary site was TOS-favorable in 46/70 (66%). Based on the overall assessment, 41/70 (58.6%) were TOS-favorable. The 3-year OS, DSS and PFS for primary site TOS-favorable versus unfavorable were OS: 76.9% versus 37.4%; DSS: 78.1% versus 46.2%, PFS: 69.9% versus 41.3%, (log-rank test = 0.01, 0.03, 0.04; respectively). Additionally, patients with an overall assessment of TOS favorability demonstrated better survival outcomes compared with TOS-unfavorable patients (OS: 77.3% vs. 46.2%; DSS: 78.2% vs. 56.5%, PFS: 72.3% vs. 42.1%, log-rank test = 0.01, 0.04, 0.01; respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with TOS-favorable HPV-negative early T-stage OPSCC have superior survival outcomes than TOS-unfavorable patients.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: Primary radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy (RT/CRT) is the most common treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC), but there has been an increase in transoral surgery (TOS) for T1-2 tumors. Because only a subset of T1-2 tumors are TOS-favorable, nonrandomized comparisons between RT/CRT and TOS could be confounded by indication. We aimed to compare outcomes of potential TOS-candidates versus non-TOS candidates, among patients who underwent RT/CRT for early T-stage OPSCC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: For patients treated with RT/CRT for early-stage human papilloma virus positive OPSCC between 2014 and 2018, pretreatment imaging was reviewed by 3 head and neck surgeons, blinded to outcomes, to assess primary-site appropriateness for TOS, and extracapsular extension (ECE) was scored by a head and neck neuroradiologist. We compared outcomes based on surgical favorability pertaining to (1) the primary site tumor alone and (2) the primary site and an absence of ECE. Kaplan-Meier estimates for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared using the log-rank test, with Cox regression used for multivariable modeling. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-three patients were evaluated, of which 121 were male (84.6%), the median age was 59.4 years, and all of them were p16 positive (100%). The primary site was TOS-favorable in 115 of 143 (80.4%). Patients with TOS-favorable primary site experienced superior 5-year OS (89.8% vs 71.2%, P = .017), DSS (90.4% vs 63.4%, P = .022), and RFS (83% vs 49.4%, P = .04) compared with TOS-unfavorable patients. Similarly, patients with a TOS-favorable primary site and no ECE on imaging 101 of 143 (70.6%), had improved OS, DSS, and RFS (P < .05) compared with TOS-unfavorable patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this first study to assess surgical favorability as a prognostic factor among patients with T1/2 p16+ OPSCC, patients with TOS-favorable early-stage OPSCC have better outcomes than TOS-unfavorable patients. This provides valuable prognostic information for patients, and also suggests the risk of confounding by indication in nonrandomized comparisons of treatment modalities.