Histologically negative specimens after induction therapy: frequency and impact on survival.
BACKGROUND
Occasionally in head and neck cancer patients treated surgically after induction chemotherapy, the histologic analysis of the excised tissue does not show evidence of viable tumor cells, a situation that the authors named "negative specimen." The objective of this study was to quantify the frequency of negative specimens in surgery after induction chemotherapy and to analyze the repercussions of this situation.


METHODS
A retrospective study of prospectively collected data on 245 patients treated surgically after induction chemotherapy was made to calculate the frequency of negative specimens. An individualized review of the patients with negative specimens was made. The actuarial survival was calculated in relation to the existence of residual tumor.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients (10%) had negative specimens. Five-year adjusted survival for patients with negative specimens was 96%, significantly better than 62% survival in patients with residual tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Ten percent of patients treated surgically after induction chemotherapy had no residual tumor. These patients had a favorable prognosis.
León
X
X
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Avda. San Antoni M(a) Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
Quer
M
M
Orús
C
C
Sancho
F J
FJ
de Juan
M
M
López-Pousa
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil