Transoral Surgery in HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: Oncologic Outcomes in the Veterans Affairs System

Objectives: Most transoral robotic surgery (TORS) literature for HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPC) derives from high-volume tertiary-care centers. This study aims to describe long-term recurrence and survival outcomes among Veterans Health Administration patients.

Materials and methods: Using the US Veterans Affairs database, we identified patients with HPV-OPC treated with TORS between January 2010 and December 2016. Patients were stratified in risk categories: low (0-1 metastatic nodes, negative margins), intermediate (close margins, 2-4 metastatic nodes, lymphovascular or perineural invasion, pT3-pT4 tumor), or high (positive margins, extranodal extension (ENE), and/or ≥5 metastatic nodes). Primary outcomes included overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Results: The cohort included 161 patients of which 29 (18%) were low-risk, 45 (28%) intermediate-risk, and 87 (54%) high-risk. ENE was present in 41% of node-positive cases and 24% had positive margins. Median follow-up was 5.6 years (95% CI, 3.0-9.3). The 5-year DSS for low, intermediate, and high-risk groups were: 100%, 90.0% (95% CI, 75.4-96.1%), and 88.7% (95% CI, 78.3-94.2%). Pathologic features associated with poor DSS on univariable analysis included pT3-T4 tumors (HR 3.81, 95% CI, 1.31-11; p = 0.01), ≥5 metastatic nodes (HR 3.41, 95% CI, 1.20-11; p = 0.02), and ENE (HR 3.53, 95% CI, 1.06-12; p = 0.04). Higher 5-year cumulative incidences of recurrence were observed in more advanced tumors (pT3-T4, 33% [95% CI, 14-54%] versus pT1-T2, 13% [95% CI, 8-19%]; p = 0.01).

Conclusions: In this nationwide study, patients with HPV-OPC treated with TORS followed by adjuvant therapy at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers demonstrated favorable survival outcomes comparable to those reported in high-volume academic centers and clinical trials.

Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:207-214, 2024.