title: Lower platelet counts and antiplatelet therapy independently predict better outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: The paper by Rachidi et al. suggests that antiplatelet drugs may play a role in ameliorating the clinical outcome in a large series of patients with head and neck cancer managed with either surgery or radiation. Our data, as well as confirming the results observed by the authors, enhance their clinical relevance pointing out the effect of antiplatelet drugs in terms of locoregional control in the setting of patients with advanced head and neck cancer managed with definitive chemo-radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steffan
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polesel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trovo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gobitti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaccher
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serraino
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franchin
keywords: Antiplatelets; Aspirin; Coagulation; Head and neck cancer; Larynx; Platelets; Radiotherapy; Survival