Oncologic Outcomes in Patients with Localized, Primary Head and Neck Synovial Sarcoma.

this study aims to evaluate the survival outcomes of patients suffering from head and neck synovial sarcoma (HNSS), especially in relation to patients with a localized disease at diagnosis. this retrospective chart review includes 57 patients diagnosed with primary HNSS between 1981 and 2020 who presented with a localized disease at diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) from diagnosis, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) from the end of the primary tumor treatment are estimated.

Durable local control with hypofractionated radiation therapy for unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

Background And Purpose: As patients with advanced melanoma live longer in the context of systemic therapy advancements, better strategies for durable control of bulky tumors are needed. In this study, we evaluated if dose-escalated hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) can provide durable local control and improve tumor-associated symptoms in patients with unresectable or bulky metastatic melanoma for whom stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (RT) approaches are not feasible due to tumor size or location.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients with unresectable or bulky metastatic melanoma who were treated to a total of 53 tumor targets with 12-17 fractions HFRT at our institution between 2015-2022.

Primary tumor site for localized Merkel cell carcinoma drives different management strategies without impacting oncologic outcomes.

Background And Purpose: Clinically localized Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has been associated with high rates of disease relapse. This study examines how primary tumor anatomic site drives patterns of care and outcomes in a large cohort treated in the contemporary era.

Materials And Methods: Patterns of care and associated outcomes were evaluated for clinically Stage I-II MCC patients treated at our institution with adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) to the primary site and/or regional nodal basin as a component of their curative intent therapy between 2014-2021.

Long-term Patient-Reported Outcomes in a Population-Based Cohort Following Radiotherapy vs Surgery for Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Importance: Oncologic outcomes are similar for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with primary surgery or radiotherapy. However, comparative differences in long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between modalities are less well established.

Objective: To determine the association between primary surgery or radiotherapy and long-term PROs.

International Multi-Specialty Expert Physician Preoperative Identification of Extranodal Extension n Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients using Computed Tomography: Prospective Blinded Human Inter-Observer Performance Evaluation.

Importance: Extranodal extension (pENE) is a critical prognostic factor in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) that drives therapeutic disposition. Determination of pENE from radiological imaging has been associated with high inter-observer variability. However, the impact of clinician specialty on human observer performance of imaging-detected extranodal extension (iENE) remains poorly understood.

Impact of Cancer Care Regionalization on Patient Volume.

Background: Cancer centers are regionalizing care to expand patient access, but the effects on patient volume are unknown. This study aimed to compare patient volumes before and after the establishment of head and neck regional care centers (HNRCCs).

Methods: This study analyzed 35,394 unique new patient visits at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) before and after the creation of HNRCCs.

Neoadjuvant relatlimab and nivolumab in resectable melanoma.

Relatlimab and nivolumab combination immunotherapy improves progression-free survival over nivolumab monotherapy in patients with unresectable advanced melanoma. We investigated this regimen in patients with resectable clinical stage III or oligometastatic stage IV melanoma (NCT02519322). Patients received two neoadjuvant doses (nivolumab 480 mg and relatlimab 160 mg intravenously every 4 weeks) followed by surgery, and then ten doses of adjuvant combination therapy.

Optimized decision support for selection of transoral robotic surgery or (chemo)radiation therapy based on posttreatment swallowing toxicity.

Background: A primary goal in transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) survivors is to optimize swallowing function. However, the uncertainty in the outcomes of TORS including postoperative residual positive margin (PM) and extranodal extension (ENE), may necessitate adjuvant therapy, which may cause significant swallowing toxicity to survivors.

Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on a prospective registry data with low- to intermediate-risk human papillomavirus-related OPSCC possibly resectable by TORS.

Clinical activity of checkpoint inhibitors in angiosarcoma: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Systemic treatments for angiosarcoma remains an area of unmet clinical need. The authors conducted this retrospective study to assess the clinical activity of checkpoint inhibitors in patients with angiosarcoma. The primary objective was to assess the objective response rate, and the secondary objective was to assess the progression-free and overall survival durations and disease control rate.

Association of hearing loss and tinnitus symptoms with health-related quality of life among long-term oropharyngeal cancer survivors.

Background: This study investigated the association of hearing loss and tinnitus with overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among long-term oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors.

Methods: This study included OPC survivors treated between 2000 and 2013 and surveyed from September 2015 to July 2016. Hearing loss and tinnitus were measured by asking survivors to rate their "difficulty with hearing loss and/or ringing in the ears" from 0 (not present) to 10 (as bad as you can imagine).

Unilateral Radiation Therapy for Tonsillar Cancer: Treatment Outcomes in the Era of Human Papillomavirus, Positron-Emission Tomography, and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate disease, survival, and toxic effects after unilateral radiation therapy treatment for tonsillar cancer.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective study was performed of patients treated at our institution within the period from 2000 to 2018. Summary statistics were used to assess the cohort by patient characteristics and treatments delivered.

Genetic susceptibility to patient-reported xerostomia among long-term oropharyngeal cancer survivors.

Genetic susceptibility for xerostomia, a common sequela of radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer, is unknown. Therefore, to identify genetic variants associated with moderate to severe xerostomia, we conducted a GWAS of 359 long-term oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors using 579,956 autosomal SNPs. Patient-reported cancer treatment-related xerostomia was assessed using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory.

Risk factors associated with patient-reported fatigue among long-term oropharyngeal carcinoma survivors.

Background: The study objective is to identify risk factors associated with fatigue among long-term OPC survivors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included disease-free OPC survivors treated curatively between 2000 and 2013 who were surveyed from September 2015 to July 2016. The outcome variable was patient-reported fatigue.

COVID-19 infection and its consequences among surgical oncology patients: A systematic analysis, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

We conducted this meta-analysis to address the outcomes in cancer patients after oncologic surgery during COVID-19 pandemic. The primary endpoint was the COVID-19-related mortality rate. Higher body mass index was significantly and negatively associated with higher all-cause mortality and in-hospital COVID-19 infection rates.

Swallowing After Primary TORS and Unilateral or Bilateral Radiation for Low- to Intermediate-Risk Tonsil Cancer.

Objective: The primary course of treatment for patients with low- to intermediate-risk tonsil cancer has evolved with a shift toward primary transoral robotic surgery (TORS) or radiation therapy (RT). While favorable outcomes have been reported after deintensification via unilateral TORS or RT (uniRT), comparisons of functional outcomes between these treatments are lacking. We compared clinical outcomes (Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity [DIGEST] and feeding tube [FT]) and patient-reported swallowing outcomes (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory [MDADI]) based on primary treatment strategy: TORS, uniRT, or bilateral RT (biRT).

Determinants of patient-reported xerostomia among long-term oropharyngeal cancer survivors.

Background: This study was conducted to identify clinicodemographic risk factors for xerostomia among long-term oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 906 disease-free, adult OPC survivors with a median survival duration at the time of survey of 6 years (range, 1-16 years); self-reported xerostomia scores were available for 877 participants. Study participants had completed curative treatment between January 2000 and December 2013 and responded to a survey administered from September 2015 to July 2016.

Elective neck dissection versus observation in patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The survival benefit of elective neck dissection (END) for patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) of the head and neck and no evidence of regional metastasis (cN0) has never been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of END on patient survival.

Methods: The authors included patients with head and neck cSCC who had undergone primary surgery from 1995 to 2017.

Pilot Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Locoregionally Advanced, Resectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Purpose: In locoregionally advanced, resectable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (CSCC-HN), surgery followed by radiotherapy is standard but can be cosmetically and functionally devastating, and many patients will have recurrence.

Patients And Methods: Newly diagnosed or recurrent stage III-IVA CSCC-HN patients amenable to curative-intent surgery received two cycles of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibition. The primary endpoint was ORR per RECIST 1.

Dysphagia profiles after primary transoral robotic surgery or radiation for oropharyngeal cancer: A registry analysis.

Objective: To describe the physiologic swallowing impairments (MBSImP™©) associated with safety/efficiency impairments (DIGEST /DIGEST grades) at 3-6 months after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) or radiation therapy (RT).

Study Design: Secondary analysis of registry data.

Setting: Single, academic institution.

Association of Risk Factors With Patient-Reported Voice and Speech Symptoms Among Long-term Survivors of Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Importance: Voice and speech production are critical physiological functions that affect quality of life and may deteriorate substantially after oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) treatment. There is limited knowledge about risk factors associated with voice and speech outcomes among survivors of OPC.

Objective: To identify the risk factors of voice and speech symptoms among long-term survivors of OPC.

Nodal Recurrence is a Primary Driver of Early Relapse for Patients with Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma in the Modern Therapeutic Era.

Background: Management of patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma has changed dramatically over the last few years such that completion lymph node dissection (CLND) has become uncommon, and many patients receive adjuvant immunotherapy or targeted therapy. This study seeks to characterize patterns and predictors of early recurrence in this setting.

Patients And Methods: All patients with primary cutaneous melanoma undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) between 3/2016 and 12/2019 were identified.

Risk and Clinical Risk Factors Associated With Late Lower Cranial Neuropathy in Long-term Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Survivors.

Importance: Lower cranial neuropathy (LCNP) is a rare, but permanent, late effect of radiotherapy and other cancer therapies. Lower cranial neuropathy is associated with excess cancer-related symptoms and worse swallowing-related quality of life. Few studies have investigated risk and clinical factors associated with late LCNP among patients with long-term survival of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC survivors).