Prognostic value of the sixth edition of the UICC's TNM classification and stage grouping for oral cancer

Abstract

T stage, N stage, and UICC stage grouping are good predictors of overall survival in patients with OSCC. Neither the division of stage T4 into T4a and T4b in the sixth edition nor the split of stage IV into IVa and IVb showed significant differences in overall survival between the subgroups.

The negative prognostic value of TRAIL overexpression in oral squamous cell carcinomas does not preclude the potential therapeutic use of recombinant TRAIL

“…As expected [1,16], among the different variables analyzed in Table 2, overall histological grading, invasive margins, neural infiltration and extent of primary tumor (T) significantly (p<0.05) discriminated the survival function.…”

“…Starting from saturated models, a step-down procedure allowed us to detect the variables most associated with survival. Table 1 shows the distribution of the samples by T and N values [16]. Immunohistochemical analysis of the OSCC samples revealed different TRAIL staining patterns depending on the grading of the tumors.…”

Combined-modality treatment in advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…No prospective standardized trials were conducted to prove the prognostic validity of the classification changes [40]. In fact, there are no reliable data so far that show differences in the treatment outcomes between the two nonmetastatic groups stage IVa and IVb as quite often patients with stage IVb are not treated with curative intent and, therefore, are excluded from prospective studies [35]. Our results indicate that primary surgery followed by adjuvant radiochemotherapy is suboptimal for patients with a UICC stage IVb OSCC [31].…”

Delayed diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma following dental treatment

“…All 12 cases were stage IV due to T4 disease (tumour invades adjacent or deep structures) 4,5 and 84% had cervical metastases (Fig 3). This staging was derived from the final histopathology in surgical cases (n=10) and clinicoradiological evaluation in non-surgical cases (n=2).…”

“…The TNM staging system for oral cancer was used in this study as it is recognised internationally and has been validated recently. 4,5 Staging was pathological where available, otherwise staging was determined based on clinical and radiological findings.…”