Outcomes of Radical Radiotherapy (RT) or Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Surgically Inoperable Advanced Oral Cavity Cancer: A Single Center Experience

Shashank Shenoy; Ankita Mallick; Sudipta Pati; Sanjoy Chatterjee; Indranil Mallick

doi:10.1002/hed.28055

Outcomes of Radical Radiotherapy (RT) or Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in Surgically Inoperable Advanced Oral Cavity Cancer: A Single Center Experience

Head Neck. 2024 Dec 31. doi: 10.1002/hed.28055. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shashank Shenoy¹, Ankita Mallick¹, Sudipta Pati¹, Sanjoy Chatterjee¹, Indranil Mallick¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Medical Center, Kolkata, India.

PMID: 39737575
DOI: 10.1002/hed.28055

Abstract

Background: Patients with locally advanced, surgically unresectable oral squamous cell cancers (SU-OSCC) are often treated with palliative intent. There is limited information on the outcomes of radical intent treatment with radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: We retrospectively examined patients with Stage III/IV previously untreated SU-OSCC treated definitively from 2011 to 2021 in a single institution with RT or CRT with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Results: Sixty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Oral tongue (38%) and buccal mucosa (32%) were the commonest subsites. T4a, T4b, and N2-3 disease were present in 28 (40.6%), 26 (37.7%), and 39 (56.5%) patients, respectively. Median OS and PFS of the whole group were 16 months and 10 months. The 2-year loco-regional control was 60.4%. Bone involvement or NACT use did not affect outcomes.

Conclusions: Upfront radical RT/CRT in patients with SU-OSCC with good performance status results in good outcomes and should be preferred to a palliative approach.