Characteristics and outcome of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in young adults

Abstract

Abstract. Laryngeal carcinoma rarely occurs in the young adult population. Therefore, the optimal treatment for this age group is unclear, specifically regarding organ preservation treatment. In order to assess the distinct characteristics of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in young adults and describe the effect of treatment on survival, a retrospective chart review of all patients aged <40 years, who were treated in a tertiary referral center for laryngeal SCC between January 1960 and December 2013, was performed. Patients who were treated prior to and following the Veterans study, representing an arbitrary point which started the organ preservation era, were compared. A total of 29 patients (male:female ratio, 2.6:1) were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 35±5 years and 17 patients (59%) were smokers. In total, 12 (41%) of patients were stage I, 4 (14%) were stage II, 8 (28%) were stage III and 5 (17%) were stage IV. Glottic tumors were present in 20 (69%) of patients and supraglottic tumors in 6 (21%); the site of tumor origin could not be determined in 3 (10%) of patients. Surgery was performed in 11 (38%) of patients, radiation in 21 (72%) and chemotherapy in 5 (17%). A comparison between patients treated prior to and following the Veterans study demonstrated a 2-year higher laryngectomy-free survival rate of 53% and 78%, respectively (P=0.299). The 2-year disease-free survival rate was 93% for patients who were treated prior to the Veterans study and 71% for patients who were treated after (P=0.001), with no significant change in overall survival (P= 0.413). The results suggest that the characteristics and behavior of laryngeal carcinoma in young adults is similar to older adults. Higher rates of 2-year laryngectomy-free survival were noted in patients treated following the organ preservation era with no significant difference in survival compared with patients who were treated before.

Trend in laryngeal cancer, mortality and survival rate in Iran

“…However, most researchers who evaluated the survival rate, have examined the relationship between tumor stage at the time of diagnosis and survival rate rather than grade. 13,20,23,24 Similar to the results of this study, two other studies shown that the tumor site did not lead to significant changes in the survival rate of the patients with laryngeal cancer. 6,13 According to previous reports, glottic region involvement due to hoarseness is commonly diagnosed in the early stages of cancer.…”

“…In the study in 2017, 6 232 out of 250 patients with laryngeal cancer were males. Nachalon et al 20 also reported that the ratio of men to women was 2.6/1. Chen and Boffetta 14,22 demonstrated that survival rate was significantly lower in men than in women, while in other studies, as the results of the current study, this significant relationship was not reported.…”

“…17,18 In another study, 1-year survival was reported to be 3.79% in early-stage patients. 19 Nachalon et al 20 reported the overall survival rate of 30.8 ± 4.6 years.…”

“…Chen and Boffetta 14,22 demonstrated that survival rate was significantly lower in men than in women, while in other studies, as the results of the current study, this significant relationship was not reported. 6,13,20,23,24 This increased prevalence of cancer and reduced survival rate in men may be due to higher exposure to risk factors, as well as less attention of men to individual health and more delay in referral to a physician.…”

Epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 expression is associated with the progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

“…Furthermore, exposure to asbestos, dust and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with an increased risk of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) development (3,5,6). Despite the fact that therapeutic strategies, including surgical techniques, chemotherapeutic drugs and radiotherapy, have advanced, the 5-year overall survival rate of patients with LSCC remains as low as 61% (7). The pathogenesis of LSCC remains unclear and understanding the factors contributing to the development and progression is crucial for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, in addition to the management of patients with LSCC.…”