A long-term assessment of adjuvant chemotherapy on outcome of patients with extracapsular spread of cervical metastases from squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
Extracapsular spread (ECS) of cervical lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma from head and neck sites portend poor prognosis. Therefore, a program of combined surgery, postoperative irradiation therapy, and adjuvant methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was initiated in 1982 for such patients.


METHODS
All patients operated on between June 1982 and December 1992 by the full-time faculty of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine were eligible and reported in this trial. All patients had negative surgical margins of excision of the primary carcinoma, and histologic evidence of cervical metastases with ECS. Postoperative irradiation included 50-60 cGy for 5 to 6 weeks followed by methotrexate and 5-FU administered on an outpatient basis on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. All patients were followed for 30 or more months for evidence of recurrent disease.


RESULTS
A total of 371 patients met eligibility criteria. Of this group, 53 (14%) were treated with surgery only, 187 (50%) received surgery and postoperative irradiation, and 131 (35%) received surgery, irradiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The primary site, extent of nodal involvement, and stage of the three patient groups were similar. However, performance status (Karnofsky) was best in the patients who received chemoradiation (average 90) when compared with those who received surgery and irradiation (average 80) or surgery only (average 70). Absolute disease free survival rate (30 months) was 9.5% in patients treated with surgery only, 34% in patients treated with surgery plus irradiation, and 53% in patients treated with surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy. When adjusted for patients who died of intercurrent disease with less than 30 months follow-up, survival rates became 17%, 40%, and 58%, respectively. These differences are highly significant (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study suggest that postoperative chemoradiation may improve survival in patients with ECS of cervical metastases. Compliance with the chemoradiation was suboptimal and suggests that improved strategy must be developed.
Johnson
J T
JT
Division of Head and Neck Oncology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania, USA.
Wagner
R L
RL
Myers
E N
EN
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate