Patterns of recurrence in HNSCC patients treated definitively with upfront surgery, chemoradiation

PurposeLocally-advanced oropharynx (LA-OPSCC) and hypopharynx/larynx (LA-HPLSCC) cancers may be treated with surgical or non-surgical modalities. While survival outcomes are comparable, patterns of disease recurrence are not well established. MethodsRetrospective review of 98 consecutive patients with LA-OPSCC or LA-HPLSCC treated by either surgery plus adjuvant therapy (S-POAT, n = 48) or chemoradiation (CRT, n = 50). ResultsCRT-treated patients had higher recurrence risk (42% vs 14.6%, p = 0.003). This was significant only among LA-OPSCC (p = 0.002) but not LA-HPLSCC patients (p = 0.159). Median time to recurrence in LA-OPSCC was 16.8 vs 11.6 months, and 16.6 vs 15.1 months in LA-HPLSCC, comparing surgically treated and CRT cohorts. Surgically-treated p16-negative LA-OPSCC experienced improved locoregional control than CRT-treated patients (100% vs 12.5%, p = 0.045) and 3-year RFS (83.0% vs 33.3%, p < 0.001). ConclusionLocoregional control and RFS benefit was observed in surgically treated p16 negative LA-OPSCC patients. Locoregional recurrence is the main reason of treatment failure in LA-HNSCC, occurring commonly within the first 2 years post-treatment, regardless of treatment option.