Outcomes and patterns of care of patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma treated in the early 21st century.
BACKGROUND
We performed this study to assess outcomes of patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with modern therapy approaches.


METHODS
Demographics, treatments and outcomes of patients diagnosed with Stage 3- 4B squamous carcinoma of the oropharynx, between 2000-2007 were tabulated and analyzed.


RESULTS
The cohort consisted of 1046 patients. The 5-year actuarial overall survival, recurrence-free survival and local-regional control rates for the entire cohort were 78%, 77% and 87% respectively. More advanced disease, increasing T-stage and smoking were associated with higher rates of local-regional recurrence and poorer survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer have a relatively high survival rate. Patients' demographics and primary tumor volume were very influential on these favorable outcomes. In particular, patients with small primary tumors did very well even when treatment was not intensified with the addition of chemotherapy.
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. agarden@mdanderson.org
Adam S
AS
Garden
Merrill S
MS
Kies
William H
WH
Morrison
Randal S
RS
Weber
Steven J
SJ
Frank
Bonnie S
BS
Glisson
Gary B
GB
Gunn
Beth M
BM
Beadle
K Kian
KK
Ang
David I
DI
Rosenthal
Erich M
EM
Sturgis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome