Prognostic Factors in Patients Irradiated for Recurrent Head-and-Neck Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: Many patients with recurrent head-and-neck cancer have poor outcomes. Predictive factors allowing judgment of the patient's prognosis are important for treatment individualization. This study aimed to identify such factors after irradiation of locoregional recurrence.

Patients and methods: In 60 patients irradiated for locoregionally recurrent head-and-neck cancer, 12 factors were evaluated regarding freedom from second locoregional recurrence and survival, namely gender, tumor site, initial tumor stage, primary treatment, time between cancer diagnosis and irradiation of locoregional recurrence, age, performance score, tumor and nodal category of recurrence, upfront surgery, radiation dose and concurrent chemotherapy.

Results: On Cox regression analysis, performance score (p=0.002) and nodal category (p=0.004) significantly affected survival. Good performance score (p=0.021) and low nodal category (p=0.002) were also significantly associated with freedom from a second recurrence.

Conclusion: Independent predictors of survival and freedom from second locoregional recurrence were identified as factors facilitating individualized treatment of patients with locoregionally recurrent head-and-neck cancer.

Keywords: Head-and-neck cancer; outcomes; prognoses; radiation therapy; recurrence.