Reprint of “Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx: EHNS-ESMO-ESTRO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up”

6040 Background: Concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CT/RT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, late toxicity is substantial.This phase II trial explores the feasibility and efficacy of combining neoadjuvant TPF and accelerated RT where the concomitant cytostatic component is replaced with cetuximab (E), a chimeric IgG1 mAb against EGFR. Methods: Patients (pts) had previously untreated stage III/IV M0,WHO 0–1, unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx and were scheduled for 2 cycles of TPF (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 day 1 and 5-FU 1,000 mg/m2 96 hours CI) every 3 weeks followed by RT (68 Gy/4.5 weeks) with E given one week before (400 mg/m2) and weekly during RT (250 mg/m2). A brachytherapy boost of 8 Gy was given to pts with oral cavity or oropharyngeal tumours. Neck dissection was planned for pts with N2–3 and complete response (CR) at the primary tumour. Tumour response was evaluated according to RECIST with CT, MRI or PET/CT after CT and at 6 weeks follow up. Toxicity (CTC 3.0) and quality of life (EORTC QLQ 30) was registered during and after treatment. Results: From 070401 to 081115 68 pts were enrolled, 56 had stage IV disease (T4, n = 14, N3, n = 9). Median age 57, 60 males, 3 oral cavity, 44 oropharynx, 10 larynx, and 11 hypopharynx. 30 pts were followed beyond 6 weeks and evaluated for response and early toxicity: stage IV disease 24 (T4, n = 6, N3, n = 3), median age 60, 25 males, 18 oropharynx, 5 larynx, and 7 hypopharynx. Remissions after TPF/after RT: CR 1/10, PR 15/18, SD 14/1, and PD 1. TPF as prescribed: 28/30 (pat refusal 1, renal insuff 1, dose reduction 0/28); E as prescribed: 22/30 (dermatitis 4, hypersensitivity 3, liver tox 1). Vital tumour in resected specimen 0/13. Alive at follow-up 29/30 (1 local failure). Conclusions: TPF followed by RT concomitant with E is feasible with manageable toxicities. Dermatitis in the irradiated neck, at least with the present accelerated fractionation, is troublesome to some patients but does not interrupt treatment and heals rapidly. To dispose of feeding tubes after disappearance of acute mucosal reactions has not been a problem. Early survival results are promising. Toxicity and survival results will be updated. [Table: see text]

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Photodynamic Therapy as an Alternative Therapeutic Tool in Functionally Inoperable Oral and Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: A Single Tertiary Center Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2021.626394 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Arnaud Lambert ◽

Lotte Nees ◽

Sandra Nuyts ◽

Paul Clement ◽

Jeroen Meulemans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Oral Cavity ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Standard Treatment ◽

Treated Area ◽

Free Interval

Background: Head and neck cancer is typically treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemoradiation, or a combination of these treatments. This study aims to retrospectively analyse oncological outcomes, adverse events and toxicity of treatment with temoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy at a single tertiary referral center. More specifically, in a selected group of patients with otherwise (functionally) inoperable oral or oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Methods: Twenty-six consecutive patients who received photodynamic therapy for oral or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from January 2002 until July 2019 at the University Hospitals Leuven were included. These were (1) patients with an accessible recurrent or new primary tumor in an extensively treated area of the head and neck, not suitable for standard treatment, or (2) patients that were judged medically unfit to undergo standard treatment modalities.Results: Complete tumor response immediately after PDT was obtained in 76.9% of cases. During follow-up, a proportion of CR patients did recur, to reach recurrence-free rates at six months, one year and two years of 60.6%, 48.5% and 32.3%. Local control at the PDT treated area was 42.3% with a median recurrence free interval time of 9 months. Recurrence-free interval was statistically more favorable for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (with or without oral cavity extension) in comparison to oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma alone (p < 0.001). During a median follow-up period of 27 months, we report new tumor activity in 80.8% of patients. Median overall and disease-specific survival time was 31 and 34 months, respectively. Most reported adverse events were pain after treatment and facial edema. At the end of follow-up, swallowing and upper airway functionality were preserved in 76.9 and 95.7% of patients, respectively.Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy is a valuable treatment option in highly selected patients with oral and/or oropharyngeal (functionally) inoperable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment with this alternative modality can induce durable local control in an important fraction of treated patients, with an acceptable toxicity profile.

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