Background/aim: Definitive chemoradiation (CRT) is a common approach for locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with the goal of organ preservation. Reports on long-term oncologic and functional outcomes have been limited. This study reports on outcomes utilizing this approach at a single institution over 30 years.
Materials and methods: Medical records for patients with stage III-IVB SCC of the hypopharynx were retrospectively reviewed. Patient and disease-related factors were identified and analyzed for impact on overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), disease-free survival, distant failure, and locoregional failure.
Results: A total of 54 patients were identified who were treated with definitive CRT to a mean dose of 72 Gy. With a median follow-up period of 49.8 months, 5- and 10-year OS was 62% and 43% respectively. Five and 10-year CSS were 74% and 72% respectively. Ten-year local control was 78%. Of the 37 patients with no treatment failure, 29% experienced a grade 3 or higher late toxicity, with the majority resolving during continued long-term follow-up.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates good outcomes with long-term follow-up with acceptable rates of late toxicities. The findings here represent the longest published median follow-up in this population and validate the strategy of organ preservation.
Keywords: Head and Neck cancer; chemotherapy; hypopharynx; organ preservation; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma.
Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.