The role of postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiation in pT1-2N1M0 oral squamous cell carcinoma

Chan-Chi Chang; Yin-Ting Wu; Hsi-Huei Lu; Yung-Jen Cheng; Mu-Hung Tsai

doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2024.03.005

The role of postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiation in pT1-2N1M0 oral squamous cell carcinoma

J Formos Med Assoc. 2024 Mar 21:S0929-6646(24)00150-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2024.03.005. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chan-Chi Chang¹, Yin-Ting Wu¹, Hsi-Huei Lu², Yung-Jen Cheng³, Mu-Hung Tsai⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
² Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
³ Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: n510302@mail.hosp.ncku.edu.tw.

PMID: 38514372
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2024.03.005

Abstract

Background: Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) are indicated for patients with advanced oral cancer. However, the benefits for pT1-2N1 disease without adverse pathological features are controversial.

Methods: This retrospective study using the Taiwan Cancer Registry database included patients with pT1-2N1 oral cancer from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017. Overall survival was analyzed in patients receiving surgery alone, PORT, or CCRT.

Results: Among the 862 patients, the five-year overall survival rate in patients receiving surgery alone, PORT, and CCRT was 62.2%, 58.7%, and 71.1% (P = 0.03), respectively. CCRT was associated with longer survival than PORT (P = 0.008). Survival in patients with pT2 disease was significantly higher with CCRT than PORT (P = 0.001), but no difference was observed in pT1 disease.

Conclusion: CCRT demonstrated a favorable impact on survival outcomes in patients diagnosed with pT2N1 oral cancer when compared to PORT. However, no significant survival benefits were observed for patients with pT1 disease.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Oral cavity; Radiation therapy.