Combined high-intensity local treatment and systemic therapy in metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Data Base Journal Article


Authors: Zumsteg, Z. S.; Luu, M.; Yoshida, E. J.; Kim, S.; Tighiouart, M.; David, J. M.; Shiao, S. L.; Mita, A. C.; Scher, K. S.; Sherman, E. J.; Lee, N. Y.; Ho, A. S.
Article Title: Combined high-intensity local treatment and systemic therapy in metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Data Base
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that primary tumor ablation can improve survival for some cancer patients with distant metastases. This may be particularly applicable to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) because of its tropism for locoregional progression. METHODS: This study included patients with metastatic HNSCC undergoing systemic therapy identified in the National Cancer Data Base. High-intensity local treatment was defined as radiation doses ≥ 60 Gy or oncologic resection of the primary tumor. Multivariate Cox regression, propensity score matching, landmark analysis, and subgroup analysis were performed to account for imbalances in covariates, including adjustments for the number and location of metastatic sites in the subset of patients with this information available. RESULTS: In all, 3269 patients were included (median follow-up, 51.5 months). Patients undergoing systemic therapy with local treatment had improved survival in comparison with patients receiving systemic therapy alone in propensity score–matched cohorts (2-year overall survival, 34.2% vs 20.6%; P <.001). Improved survival was associated only with patients receiving high-intensity local treatment, whereas those receiving lower-intensity local treatment had survival similar to that of patients receiving systemic therapy without local treatment. The impact of high-intensity local therapy was time-dependent, with a stronger impact within the first 6 months after the diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.255; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.210-0.309; P <.001) in comparison with more than 6 months after the diagnosis (AHR, 0.622; 95% CI, 0.561-0.689; P <.001) in the multivariate analysis. A benefit was seen in all subgroups, in landmark analyses of 1-, 2-, and 3-year survivors, and when adjusting for the number and location of metastatic sites. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive local treatment warrants prospective evaluation for select patients with metastatic HNSCC. Cancer 2017;123:4583-4593. © 2017 American Cancer Society. © 2017 American Cancer Society
Keywords: adult; cancer survival; treatment outcome; aged; survival rate; retrospective studies; major clinical study; overall survival; head and neck surgery; laryngectomy; squamous cell carcinoma; carcinoma, squamous cell; systemic therapy; cancer radiotherapy; radiation dose; cancer staging; follow up; follow-up studies; neoplasm staging; metastasis; radiotherapy dosage; local therapy; pathology; retrospective study; distant metastasis; head and neck cancer; head and neck neoplasms; factual database; databases, factual; glossectomy; head and neck tumor; chemoradiotherapy; local treatment; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; secondary; pharyngectomy; propensity score; humans; prognosis; human; male; female; priority journal; article; national cancer data base; stage ivc; high intensity local treatment
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 123
Issue: 23
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2017-12-01
Start Page: 4583
End Page: 4593
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30933
PUBMED: 28817183
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5745815
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 January 2018 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Eric J Sherman
    339 Sherman
  2. Nancy Y. Lee
    871 Lee