Pre-Treatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios as Predictors of Occult Cervical Metastasis in Clinically Negative Neck Supraglottic and Glottic Cancer

Background. Among patients with diagnosis of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC), up to 37.5% of cases may have occult metastasis (OM), and this feature is linked to poor prognosis and high rate of local recurrence. The role of elective neck dissection (END) in clinically negative neck (cN0) LSCC remains controversial. It is of great value to search for low-cost and easily detectable indicators to predict the risk of OM in laryngeal cancer. Recent reports have shown that high values of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) represent a negative prognostic factor in head and neck cancers. The aim of our study has been to investigate the value of pre-treatment NLR and PLR with regard to predicting occult cervical metastasis in cN0 supraglottic and glottic LSCC. Materials and methods. Data of patients affected by LSCC, who had been surgically treated by means of laryngectomy (total, horizontal partial and supracricoid) and END between January 2006 and January 2021, were retrospectively reviewed, using information retrieved from a database dedicated to such procedures in a single tertiary care referral institute. Results. A total of 387 patients were treated for LSCC at our Institute from 2006 to 2021, but only 108 of them met the inclusion criteria. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 64 years (range, 39–89 years). All the tumors were treated with a laryngectomy and an END. A total of 27.7% of patients were found positive for neck node metastasis (the pN+ group), while 78/108 (72.3%) patients were found to be negative for the presence of neck metastasis (the pN0 group). High values of NLR, but not PLR, significantly correlated with the probability of OM, and according to the iterative algorithm of Newton–Raphson, an NLR value of 2.26 corresponds to a probability of OM of 20%. Conclusion. Our analysis revealed a statistical correlation between high NLR pre-treatment values and positive neck OM in patients with LSCC.

Comparative Treatment Outcome in T3N0 Glottic Cancer With and Without Vocal Fold Fixation Receiving Radiation Therapy and Concurrent Low-Dose Intra-Arterial Cisplatin Infusion

Objectives: Selective radiotherapy and concomitant intra-arterial cisplatin infusion (m-RADPLAT) with a lower cisplatin dosage have been performed for organ and function preservation in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (SCC-L), and results showing a lower rate of adverse events have been reported. This study evaluated the treatment outcomes of patients with T3N0 glottic SCC-L with or without vocal fold fixation (VFF) who were treated with m-RADPLAT. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 33 patients with T3N0 SCC-L who received m-RADPLAT. Results: The vocal fold in patients with VFF 3 months after completing m-RADPLAT resumed normal movement in 15 patients (83%) and persisted fixation in 3 (17%). The 3-year local control, laryngeal cancer-specific survival, and overall survival rates of patients with or without VFF were 88.9% and 86.7%, 94.1% and 93.3%, and 88.9% and 86.7%, respectively. Additionally, the 3-year freedom from laryngectomy, laryngectomy-free survival, and laryngo-esophageal dysfunction-free survival rates of patients with or without VFF were 94.4% and 86.7%, 88.9% and 73.3%, and 83.3% and 73.3%, respectively. Grade 3 or higher toxicities were observed in all patients: leukopenia in 4 patients (12%), neutropenia in 5 (15%), anemia in 2 (6%), thrombocytopenia in 3 (9%), and mucositis in 2 (6%). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that m-RADPLAT yielded VFF improvement and a favorable survival while maintaining laryngeal function not only in patients with T3N0 glottic SCC-L without VFF but also in patients with VFF.

Prognostic factors in elderly patients with T1 glottic cancer treated with radiotherapy

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of radiotherapy in elderly T1 glottic cancer patients and prognostic factors with particular focus on comorbidities. Five-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and local control rates were 63%, 92%, and 93%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the following factors had statistically significant impact on local relapse risk and cancer death risk: diabetes, underweight, and fraction dose of 2 Gy. High number of comorbidities, high CCI, and underweight negatively influenced overall survival. A retrospective analysis was performed in a group of 131 T1N0M0 glottic cancer patients aged 70 and above treated with irradiation at the National Institute of Oncology in Cracow between 1977 and 2007. In the analyzed group men prevailed (92%) of mean age of 74 years. Each patient was diagnosed with at least one comorbidity with the following comorbid conditions being most frequent: hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the studied group, the effect of comorbidities on overall survival was evaluated using Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Twenty five (19%) patients showed underweight. All patients were irradiated once daily, 5 days a week, to a total dose of 60–70 Gy with a fraction dose of 2 or 2.5 Gy. Radiotherapy is an effective treatment modality in elderly T1 glottic cancer patients. Diabetes as comorbidity, underweight, and conventional dose fractionation decrease the probability of curative effect of radiotherapy in this group of patients, while high number of comorbidities diminishes the probability of long-term survival.

Assessment of Early Stage Glottic Cancer Depth of Resection After Transoral Laser Cordectomy

Objective Surgeons generally determine depth of resection during transoral laser cordectomy by visual inspection of the surgical field. Our aim was to examine the correlation between early glottic cancer depth of resection as reported by surgeons in the operation report and depth of resection defined by pathology specimens, using various staining techniques intended to differentiate between the distinct vocal fold layers based on particular collagen deposition. Study Design Retrospective study. Setting A voice and swallowing clinic at a tertiary referral hospital. Methods We compared depth of cordectomy assessed intraoperatively by surgeons and by pathologists using Picrosirius red stain and collagen I immunohistochemistry stain in 32 patients who underwent transoral laser cordectomy for early glottic cancer. Results For type I, II, and III cordectomy, the respective proportions of patients were 14 (47%), 9 (30%), and 7 (23%) according to surgeons’ estimations; 2 (6%), 17 (55%), and 12 (39%) according to Picrosirius red stain; and 3 (11%), 12 (44%), and 12 (45%) according to immunohistochemistry for collagen I. Conclusion Surgeons’ reported depth of resection did not correlate with depth of resection established by either staining technique. Determining depth of resection necessitates special stains, which should help in the clinical assessment of cordectomy type.