Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The role of locoregional radiotherapy for metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) is unclear. We investigated the impact of head and neck radiotherapy on survival in de novo metastatic OPSCC patients who received systemic therapy. METHODS:We queried the NCDB from 2004-2015 for metastatic OPSCC patients at diagnosis with known HPV-status who received systemic therapy. The association of head and neck radiotherapy with overall survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, Cox proportional hazards model, and propensity score-matched analysis adjusting for demographic and disease-specific prognostic factors. RESULTS:Of the 2,139 patients with metastatic OPSCC who presented with metastases and received systemic treatment, we identified 556 patients with known HPV-status. Among these 556 patients, 49% were HPV-positive and 56% received head and neck radiotherapy. With a median follow-up of 17.5 months (IQR 6.0-163.4 months), radiotherapy was associated with significantly improved 1-year OS (67% vs 58%, log-rank P < .001) which remained significant on MVA (HR 0.78 95% CI 0.62-0.97 P = .029). In HPV-status subgroup analysis, a survival benefit was identified in HPV-positive patients (1-year OS 77% vs 67%, log-rank P < .001) but not in HPV-negative patients. Results were consistent on a propensity score-matched analysis of 212 HPV-positive matched patients (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.49-0.83, P < .001). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The survival of metastatic OPSCC remains limited. In this large series of patients with known HPV-status, head and neck radiotherapy was associated with longer survival in those with HPV-associated disease. These data could guide management of this challenging group of patients for head and neck cancer practitioners. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:3 Laryngoscope, 2020.

Purpose: This research aimed to perform an overview on adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) in stage I to II endometrial carcinoma (EC) according to ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO risk group consensus in China from multi-institutional analysis.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyze patients with stage I to II EC at 13 institutions in China treated between 2003 and 2015. All patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and were divided into low-risk (LR), intermediate-risk (IR), high-intermediate risk (HIR) and high-risk (HR) groups according to ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO risk group consensus. XXResult(s): A total of 1048 cases were included. Stage I disease accounted for 85.9% of the cohort. Proportion of HR disease was 27.6%, HIR 17.7%, IR 27.7% and LR 27.1%. Patients received adjuvant VBT alone (n = 474), pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone (n = 116) or combined EBRT with VBT (n = 458). An increasing trend was found toward referrals for VBT alone. Historical data demonstrate that the clinical practice of adjuvant VBT alone increased significantly in the LR to HIR groups over the past 13 years. However, in the HR group, the proportion of VBT alone or as a boost after EBRT stayed stable in the corresponding period.All institutions commonly use High-dose-rate VBT prescribed to 0.5-cm depth from the vaginal surface with 14 and 17 different dose-fractionation schedules for VBT alone and VBT boost, respectively. The most common fractionation for VBT alone is 5 Gy in six fraction (407/474) and the most common fractionation for VBT as a boost after EBRT is 5 Gy in two fractions (178/458). Proximal 2-3 cm vagina was the most often irradiated vaginal target (61.3%). The most commonly used applicators were the multichannel vaginal cylinder (79.6%). The median follow-up time was 56 months. For LR to HIR patients, VBT alone achieved comparable survival to EBRT. Compared to EBRT, patients receiving VBT had significantly decreased incidence of grade 1-2 early and late gastrointestinal and urinary reactions, and the rate of grade 3-4 acute hematological toxicity. XXConclusion(s): There is remarkable heterogeneity among VBT dose-fractionation schedules. An increasing trend was found toward referrals for VBT alone. The clinical practice of adjuvant VBT alone increased significantly in LR to HIR groups over the past 13 years. In LR to HIR group, VBT alone achieved comparable survival to EBRT.XXCopyright

BACKGROUND:Radiotherapy, along with laser surgery, is considered a standard treatment option for patients with early glottic squamous cell cancer (SCC). Historically, patients have received complete larynx radiotherapy (CL-RT) due to fear of swallowing and respiratory laryngeal motion and this remains the standard approach in many academic institutions. Local control (LC) rates with CL-RT have been excellent, however this treatment can carry significant toxicities include adverse voice and swallowing outcomes, along with increased long-term risk of cerebrovascular morbidity. A recent retrospective study reported improved voice quality and similar local control outcomes with focused vocal cord radiotherapy (VC-RT) compared to CL-RT. There is currently no prospective evidence on the safety of VC-RT. The primary objective of this Bayesian Phase II trial is to compare the LC of VC-RT to that of CL-RT in patients with T1N0 glottic SCC. METHODS:One hundred and fifty-five patients with T1a-b N0 SCC of the true vocal cords that are n ot candidate or declined laser surgery, will be randomized in a 1:3 ratio the control arm (CL-RT) and the experimental arm (VC-RT). Randomisation will be stratified by tumor stage (T1a/T1b) and by site (each site will be allowed to select one preferred radiation dose regimen, to be used in both arms). CL-RT volumes will correspond to the conventional RT volumes, with the planning target volume extending from the top of thyroid cartilage lamina superiorly to the bottom of the cricoid inferiorly. VC-RT volumes will include the involved vocal cord(s) and a margin accounting for respiration and set-up uncertainty. The primary endpoint will be LC at 2-years, while secondary endpoints will include patient-reported outcomes (voice impairment, dysphagia and symptom burden), acute and late toxicity radiation-induced toxicity, overall survival, progression free survival, as well as an optional component of acoustic and objective measures of voice analysis using the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study would constitute the first prospective evidence on the efficacy and safety of VC-RT in early glottic cancer. If positive, this study would result in the adoption of VC-RT as standard approach in early glottic cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03759431 Registration date: November 30, 2018.

OBJECTIVE:Assess the testing rates and prognostic significance of human papilloma virus (HPV) status in hypopharynx malignancies. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Historical cohort study. SETTING/METHODS:National Cancer Database. METHODS:Review of the National Cancer Database was conducted between 2010 and 2017 for squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the hypopharynx. We investigated how often the tumors were tested for HPV and whether it was associated with survival outcomes. RESULTS:< .001). CONCLUSIONS:HPV-positive tumors constitute a sizable minority of hypopharynx tumors and are associated with improved survival. Expansion of HPV testing to hypopharynx malignancies may be warranted.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To describe patterns of primary surgical treatments in patients with T4b oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Historical cohort study. SETTING/METHODS:National Cancer Database. METHODS:Review of the National Cancer Database between 2004 and 2017 for all T4b OCSCCs. Only patients with curative treatment methods were included in the survival analysis. Surgical and nonsurgical outcomes were compared by multivariable and propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS:= .20). CONCLUSIONS:A minority of patients with T4b OCSCC undergo treatments with curative intent. A subset of patients underwent primary surgical treatment, which was associated with longer survival. The T4b classification might entail a heterogenous group, and further studies in revision of this classification might be justified.

Background/UNASSIGNED:Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience painful, debilitating symptoms and functional limitations that can interrupt cancer treatment, and decrease their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The Electronic Patient Visit Assessment (ePVA) for head and neck is a web-based mHealth patient-reported measure that asks questions about 21 categories of symptoms and functional limitations common to HNC. This article presents the development and usefulness of the ePVA as a clinical support tool for real-time interventions for patient-reported symptoms and functional limitations in HNC. Methods/UNASSIGNED:Between January 2018 and August 2019, 75 participants were enrolled in a clinical usefulness study of the ePVA. Upon signing informed consent, participants completed the ePVA and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) general (C30) questionnaire v3.0 (scores range from 0 to 100 with 100 representing best HRQoL). Clinical usefulness of the ePVA was defined as demonstration of reliability, convergent validity with HRQoL, and acceptability of the ePVA (i.e., >70% of eligible participants complete the ePVA at two or more visits and >70% of ePVA reports are read by providers). Formal focus group discussions with the interdisciplinary team that cared for patients with HNC guided the development of the ePVA as a clinical support tool. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used throughout the study. Descriptive statistics consisting of means and frequencies, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Student's t-tests were calculated using SAS 9.4 and STATA. Results/UNASSIGNED:The participants were primarily male (71%), White (76%), diagnosed with oropharyngeal or oral cavity cancers (53%), and undergoing treatment for HNC (69%). Data analyses supported the reliability (alpha =0.85), convergent validity with HRQoL scores, and acceptability of the ePVA. Participants with the highest number of symptoms and functional limitations reported significantly worse HRQoL (sum of symptoms: r=-0.50, P<0.0001; sum of function limitations: r=-0.56, P<0.0001). Ninety-two percent of participants (59 of 64) who had follow-up visits within the 6-month study period completed the ePVA at two or more visits and providers read 89% (169 of 189) of automated ePVA reports. The use of the ePVA as a clinical support tool for real-time interventions for symptoms and functional limitations reported by patients is described in a clinical exemplar. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:This research indicates that the ePVA may be a useful mHealth tool as a clinical support tool for real-time interventions for patient-reported symptoms and functional limitations in HNC. The study findings support future translational research to enhance the usefulness of the ePVA in real world settings for early interventions that decrease symptom burden and improve the QoL of patients with HNC.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the patterns of care and outcomes of treatment of early stage tonsil cancers, controlling for human papillomavirus (HPV) status. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Historical cohort study. SETTING/METHODS:National Cancer Database (NCDB). METHODS:Review of the NCDB between 2010 and 2017 for all T1-2N0M0 tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Demographics, clinical characteristics, HPV status, treatment regimens, and survival were analyzed. RESULTS:< .001). CONCLUSIONS:Surgical- or radiation-based treatment resulted in similar survival in early stage HPV-positive tonsil cancer. Surgical-based treatments were associated with longer survival in HPV-negative cancers. These findings should be further investigated in a randomized prospective trial.