Prognostic factors (including HPV status) for irradiation of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN)

Abstract

Improved treatment outcomes were significantly associated with positive HPV status, better performance status, lower tumor stage, and pretreatment hemoglobin levels ≥ 12 g/dl. These factors should be considered in future trials.

Re-irradiation with cetuximab or cisplatin-based chemotherapy for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

“…The pretreatment haemoglobin level is a well-established predictor of survival for patients undergoing primary RT for SCCHN (e.g. [39,40]) and is here confirmed for ReRT as well. Anaemia may indicate comorbidity and organ dysfunction [30,38], as well as hypoxia as a mechanism of radioresistance.…”

Primary radiotherapy or postoperative radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer

“…Several authors [2,25,27,28] have discussed the role of incorporating tumor stage, HPV/p16 status, and smoking habits in oropharyngeal cancer patients in order to subdivide patients into different risk groups. Inflammatory scoring systems may have the potential to play a similar important role if analyzed consequently in well-characterized treatment groups.…”

Hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant integrated boost of 70–75 Gy in 5 weeks for advanced head and neck cancer

“…Although these results appear disappointing, they were predictable in bulky tumors with a median tumor volume of 72 ml. Moreover, most tumors were located in the oral cavity, and therefore carry worse prognosis [20,21], and patients had contraindications to concomitant chemotherapy because of comorbidities. The very low incidence of distant relapse was an interesting finding, and underscores the importance of local control for OS in HNSCC.…”