Prognostic value of response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy and residual tumor grades in tongue carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of the present study were to analyze our experience with preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for advanced tongue carcinoma and to assess the prognostic value of response to preoperative therapy in these tumors.


METHODS
Between May 1988 and December 1999, a total of 43 patients with advanced but potentially resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue were candidates for this study. A minimum tumor size of 3 cm was required. The mean age was 59.8 years (range, 26-85 years); 13 cases were advanced stage II, 23 cases were stage III, and 7 cases were stage IV. All patients were treated preoperatively with cisplatin- or carboplatin-based chemotherapy in combination with simultaneous irradiation to a target volume of 40 Gy; 2-6 weeks later, they underwent curative surgery. Tumor regression rate, residual tumor grade, and histologic regression grade to the preoperative therapy were analyzed to determine their influence on the prognosis.


RESULTS
With a median follow-up of 60.5 months, overall survival rates were 86.0% for all cases, 92.3% for stage II cases, 77.3% for stage III cases, and 100% for stage IV cases. The progression-free survival rates according to tumor regression rate were 33.3% for group 1 (< 50% tumor regression), 66.7% for group 2 (> or = 50% and < 75% regression), 100% for group 3 (> or = 75% and < 100% regression), and 96.0% for group 4 (complete regression). The higher the tumor regression rates, the higher the survival rates. When patients who achieved a regression rate of 75% or higher were compared with those who did not, there was a significant difference in survival (P < .0001). The factors of residual tumor grade and histologic regression grade also had good correlations with the prognosis (residual tumor grade, P =.0324; histologic regression grade, P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study suggest that response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy, such as tumor regression rate, residual tumor grade, and histologic regression grade, could be of prognostic value in patients with tongue carcinoma.
Kirita
T
T
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, Japan. tkirita@nmu-gw.naramed-u.ac.jp
Shimooka
H
H
Yamanaka
Y
Y
Tatebayashi
S
S
Yamamoto
K
K
Nishimine
M
M
Sugimura
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000473:pathology; D017663:Peplomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
D017663:Peplomycin; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin