Molecular correlates for HPV-negative head and neck cancer engraftment prognosticate patient outcomes.

There is a pressing need to improve risk stratification and treatment selection for HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) due to the adverse side effects of treatment. One of the most important prognostic features is lymph nodes involvement. Previously, we demonstrated that tumor formation in patient-derived xenografts (i.

Development of a prediction model for tube feeding dependence in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a prediction model for feeding tube dependence in a large homogenous cohort of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV + OPSCC) patients receiving chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We further aimed to externally validate three previously published feeding tube prediction models on this cohort.

Materials And Methods: p16-confirmed HPV + OPSCC patients treated with definitive CRT at a tertiary cancer centre between April 2017 and February 2022 were identified.

Impact of Postoperative Neck Radiotherapy Volumes on Long-Term Unstimulated Saliva Flow Following Primary Surgery and Ipsilateral Neck Dissection for Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: We investigate the association of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) volumes and salivary function in oral cavity SCC (OSCC).

Methods: OSCC patients undergoing PORT 2005-2021 underwent modified Schirmer test (MST) pre-PORT, 6 and/or 12 months post-PORT. Hyposalivation rates were compared by PORT volumes.

Impact of Surgeon-Radiation Oncology Dyads in Oral Cavity Cancer Outcomes.

Background: Multidisciplinary care is paramount in patient-specific decision making, especially as pertaining to oral cavity squamous cell cancer (OCSCC) treatment. Protracted surgery-postoperative-radiation (S-PORT) has a detrimental impact on OCSCC patients' outcomes. This study examined the impact of surgeon-radiation oncologist dyads on the treatment of OCSCC, focusing on S-PORT interval and disease specific outcomes.

TNM 8 staging system beyond p16: Double HPV/p16 status is superior to p16 alone in predicting outcome in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: The assessment of p16INK4a (p16) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been incorporated into tumor classification, as p16 has been shown to impact survival probability. However, a recent study demonstrated that human papillomavirus (HPV) status in addition to p16 may have a better discriminatory effect on survival probability. This study aims to determine the impact of combined evaluation of p16 and HPV on prognosis.

The prognostic value of image-identified extranodal extension in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma following definitive (chemo-)radiotherapy.

Objectives: Clinical extranodal extension (cENE) is a cN modifier in TNM-8 for laryngo-hypopharygeal carcinoma (LHC). We hypothesize that image-detected ENE (iENE) can provide additional prognostic value over cENE in LHC.

Methods: Baseline CTs/MRIs of cN+ LHC patients treated with definitive (chemo-)radiotherapy between 2010-2019 were re-reviewed by a neuroradiologist using internationally accepted criteria for iENE-positive/negative (iENE+/iENE-).

Clinical Predictors of Cisplatin Chemoradiation-Induced Ototoxicity in HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Cisplatin-based chemoradiation is a standard treatment for many patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), an etiologically distinct subset of head and neck cancer. Although associated with good long-term survival, clinical risk factors for ototoxicity have been understudied in this population. This study aimed to evaluate clinical predictors associated with ototoxicity in HPV-positive OPSCC patients treated with cisplatin chemoradiation.

Criteria for the diagnosis of extranodal extension detected on radiological imaging in head and neck cancer: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations.

Extranodal extension of tumour on histopathology is known to be a negative prognostic factor in head and neck cancer. Compelling evidence suggests that extranodal extension detected on radiological imaging is also a negative prognostic factor. Furthermore, if imaging detected extranodal extension could be identified reliably before the start of treatment, it could be used to guide treatment selection, as patients might be better managed with non-surgical approaches to avoid the toxicity and cost of trimodality therapy (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy together).

Radiology-Pathology Concordance and Prognostication of Nodal Features in pN+ Oral Cavity Cancer.

Background And Purpose: The aims of our study are to evaluate the diagnostic performance and prognostic value of radiological lymph node (LN) characteristics in pN+ oral cavity squamous carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials And Methods: pN+ OSCC treated between 2012 and 2020 were included. Preoperative imaging was reviewed by a single radiologist blinded to pathologic findings for the following nodal features: imaging-positive LN (iN+), laterality and total number, and image-identified extranodal extension (iENE).

Development and Standardization of an Osteoradionecrosis Classification System in Head and Neck Cancer: Implementation of a Risk-Based Model.

Purpose: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORN) can manifest in varying severity. The aim of this study is to identify ORN risk factors and develop a novel classification to depict the severity of ORN.

Methods: Consecutive patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with curative-intent intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (≥45 Gy) from 2011 to 2017 were included.

Causes and impact of delays during the COVID-19 pandemic on head and neck cancer diagnosis.

Background: The causes for delays during the COVID19 pandemic and their impact on head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and staging are not well described.

Methods: Two cohorts were defined a priori for review and analysis-a Pre-Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2019) and a Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2020). Delays were categorized as COVID-19 related or not, and as clinician, patient, or policy related.

Essential data variables for a minimum dataset for head and neck cancer trials and clinical research: HNCIG consensus recommendations and database.

The Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG) has undertaken an international modified Delphi process to reach consensus on the essential data variables to be included in a minimum database for HNC research. Endorsed by 19 research organisations representing 34 countries, these recommendations provide the framework to facilitate and harmonise data collection and sharing for HNC research. These variables have also been incorporated into a ready to use downloadable HNCIG minimum database, available from the HNCIG website.

The Quantification of Radiation Fibrosis Using Clinically Indicated Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Currently, no objective method exists to measure the extent of fibrosis in swallowing musculature in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. We developed and psychometrically tested a method of quantifying fibrosis volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The overall aim of this study was to determine if clinical MRI is a reliable tool to measure fibrosis of the pharyngeal musculature in patients with HNC managed with RT and to assess its potential to capture changes in fibrosis over time.

Reduced-Volume Irradiation of Uninvolved Neck in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Updated Results From an Open-Label, Noninferiority, Multicenter, Randomized Phase III Trial.

JCO We previously reported comparable 3-year regional relapse-free survival (RRFS) using elective upper-neck irradiation (UNI) in N0-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) compared with standard whole-neck irradiation (WNI). Here, we present the prespecified 5-year overall survival (OS), RRFS, late toxicity, and additional analyses. In this randomized trial, patients received UNI (n = 224) or WNI (n = 222) for an uninvolved neck.

RADCURE: An open-source head and neck cancer CT dataset for clinical radiation therapy insights.

Purpose: This manuscript presents RADCURE, one of the most extensive head and neck cancer (HNC) imaging datasets accessible to the public. Initially collected for clinical radiation therapy (RT) treatment planning, this dataset has been retrospectively reconstructed for use in imaging research.

Acquisition And Validation Methods: RADCURE encompasses data from 3346 patients, featuring computed tomography (CT) RT simulation images with corresponding target and organ-at-risk contours.

Anatomic prognostic factors and their potential roles in refining M1 classification for de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: To identify anatomic prognostic factors and their potential roles in refining M1 classification for de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (M1-NPC).

Materials And Methods: All M1-NPC treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy between 2010 and 2019 from two centers (training and validation cohort) were included. The prognostic value of metastatic disease extent and involved organs for overall survival (OS) were assessed by several multivariable analyses (MVA) models.