Prognostic and predictive factors in recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A review of the literature

Paolo Bossi; Salvatore Alfieri; Primoz Strojan; Robert P Takes; Fernando López; Antti Mäkitie; Nabil F Saba; Juan Pablo Rodrigo; Carol Bradford; Carlos Suarez; Mark Zafereo; Arlene A Forastiere; Jan B Vermorken; Miquel Quer; Alvaro Sanabria; Ricard Simo; Remco de Bree; Alessandra Rinaldo; Alfio Ferlito

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.01.018

Prognostic and predictive factors in recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A review of the literature

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2019 May:137:84-91. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.01.018. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Authors

Paolo Bossi¹, Salvatore Alfieri², Primoz Strojan³, Robert P Takes⁴, Fernando López⁵, Antti Mäkitie⁶, Nabil F Saba⁷, Juan Pablo Rodrigo⁸, Carol Bradford⁹, Carlos Suarez¹⁰, Mark Zafereo¹¹, Arlene A Forastiere¹², Jan B Vermorken¹³, Miquel Quer¹⁴, Alvaro Sanabria¹⁵, Ricard Simo¹⁶, Remco de Bree¹⁷, Alessandra Rinaldo¹⁸, Alfio Ferlito¹⁹

Affiliations

¹ Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Head and Neck Cancer Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
³ Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Zaloška 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana.
⁴ Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, University of Oviedo, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias and CIBERONC, ISCIII, Oviedo, Spain.
⁶ Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
⁷ Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁸ Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias-University of Oviedo, ISPA, IUOPA, CIBERONC, Oviedo, Spain.
⁹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Michigan Medical School, MI, USA.
¹⁰ Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
¹¹ Head & Neck Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
¹² Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹³ Department of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
¹⁴ Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
¹⁵ Department of Surgery, Universidad de Antioquia, Head and Neck Service, Fundacion Colombiana de Cancerologia, Medellin, Colombia.
¹⁶ Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
¹⁷ Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
¹⁸ University of Udine School of Medicine, Udine, Italy.
¹⁹ Coordinator of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group, Padua, Italy.

PMID: 31014517
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.01.018

Abstract

The pattern of clinical behaviour and response to treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is heterogeneous. Treatment strategies that can be employed vary from potentially curative salvage surgery and re-irradiation to palliative systemic therapies and best supportive care. The advent of new therapeutic options, in terms of more sophisticated surgical approaches and techniques, highly conformal and precise radiation techniques and immunotherapy may offer improved control of disease and longer survival. Moreover, the epidemiological changes during the last decades, including the increase of human papilloma virus-related oropharyngeal primary tumors, are also reflected in the recurrent and metastatic setting. In this complex context the identification of predictive and prognostic factors is urgently needed to tailor treatment, to increase its efficacy, and to avoid unnecessary toxicities. A better knowledge of prognosis may also help the patients and caregivers in decision making on the optimal choice of care. The purpose of our review is to highlight the current evidence and shortcomings in this field.

Keywords: Head and neck cancer; Prognostic and predictive factors; Recurrent and/or metastatic disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis*
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy*
Predictive Value of Tests
Prognosis
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / diagnosis*
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / pathology
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / therapy*