Independent validation of a dysphagia dose response model for the selection of head and neck cancer patients to proton therapy.

Background And Purpose: The model based approach involves the use of normal tissue complication models for selection of head and neck cancer patients to proton therapy. Our goal was to validate the clinical utility of the related dysphagia model using an independent patient cohort.

Materials And Methods: A dataset of 277 head and neck cancer (pharynx and larynx) patients treated with (chemo)radiotherapy between 2019 and 2021 was acquired.

Disease outcome and associated factors after definitive platinum based chemoradiotherapy for advanced stage HPV-negative head and neck cancer.

Background: Definitive concomitant cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the current gold standard for most patients with advanced stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) of the pharynx and larynx. Since previous meta-analysis on CRT outcomes in HNSCC have been reported, advances have been made in radiotherapy techniques and clinical management, while HPV-status has been identified as a strong confounding prognostic factor in oropharyngeal cancer. Here, we present real-world outcome data from a large multicenter cohort of HPV-negative advanced stage HNSCC treated with CRT using contemporary IMRT-based techniques.

Assessing the prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating CD57+ cells in advanced stage head and neck cancer using QuPath digital image analysis.

This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of intratumoral CD57+ cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to examine the reproducibility of these analyses using QuPath. Pretreatment biopsies of 159 patients with HPV-negative, stage III/IV HNSCC treated with chemoradiotherapy were immunohistochemically stained for CD57. The number of CD57+ cells per mm tumor epithelium was quantified by two independent observers and by QuPath, software for digital pathology image analysis.

Radiotherapy as nose preservation treatment strategy for cancer of the nasal vestibule: The Dutch experience.

Background And Purpose: Primary radiotherapy is often preferred for early-stage cancer of the nasal vestibule (CNV), combining high disease control with preservation of nasal anatomy. However, due to practice variation and an absence of comparative trials, no consensus exists on preference for brachytherapy (BT) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). We compared these modalities in terms of disease control, nose preservation rates and toxicity.

A Prospectively Validated Prognostic Model for Patients with Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Based on Radiomics of Computed Tomography Images.

Background: Locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients have high relapse and mortality rates. Imaging-based decision support may improve outcomes by optimising personalised treatment, and support patient risk stratification. We propose a multifactorial prognostic model including radiomics features to improve risk stratification for advanced HNSCC, compared to TNM eighth edition, the gold standard.