title: Predictive factors for the histologic response to preoperative radiotherapy in advanced oral cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are important in treating advanced oral cancer. We attempted to elucidate predictive factors for the histologic response to preoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients with locally advanced cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx were treated preoperatively with radiotherapy (50 Gy); surgery included modification of the resected area to preserve organ function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemoglobin level and histologic differentiation were independent factors significantly associated with the histologic response by multivariate analysis. Locoregional failure occurred only in patients with poor histologic response, and there was a significant difference in the 5-year survival rate between patients with good and poor responses (84% vs 32%). Multivariate analysis indicated that the histologic response at the primary site and the number of metastatic lymph nodes were prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified predictive factors for a good response to preoperative therapy and found a high survival rate in patients with a good response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. k-oni@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onizawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins