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Zhao, Yujie

Mayo Clinic

Jacksonville College

Citations 2

MC240701: Decentralized pilot study of triple oral metronomic chemotherapy in recurrent/metastatic oral cavity cancer.
Baral, Binav, Nguyen, Anna C., Meyers, Jordan E., Fazer-Posorske, Casey, Lewis, Akeem Ronell, Zhao, Yujie, Chintakuntlawar, Ashish V., Asiedu, Gladys, Bayne, Harry E. Fuentes, Price, Katharine A. , Fazer-Posorske, Casey , Pritchett, Joshua C. , McGarrah, Patrick W. , Zhao, Yujie, Chintakuntlawar, Ashish V.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.tps6126 Get It

TPS6126 Background: Oral cavity cancers (OCC) are a rare subtype of head and neck cancer (HNC) with poor outcomes and limited second-line treatment options in the recurrent or metastatic (R/M) setting. Treatment-related morbidity and repeated local recurrences in OCC result in significant impairment of function and quality of life. Rural OCC patients comprise a sizable portion (50%) of our practice and are usually of lower socioeconomic status with lack of access to specialist care. They also have multiple barriers to treatment access and ancillary services, translating to poorer clinical outcomes. There is a critical need for effective and accessible therapies for R/M OCC in rural patients. Triple oral metronomic chemotherapy (TOMC) with Methotrexate, Erlotinib and Celecoxib (MEC) suppresses angiogenesis and activates antitumor microenvironment in HNC. Studies using TOMC in R/M OCC outside the US show reasonable efficacy (6-month OS 52.9%), better safety and lower cost compared to standard second line options. We hypothesize that a decentralized clinical trial with TOMC in R/M OCC is feasible, safe and effective in addition to being economical and accessible for rural patients. Methods: MC240701 is a single institution, open label, decentralized, single arm pilot study of MEC in patients with R/M OCC. Eligible pts must be ≥18 years old, have pathologically confirmed R/M OCC not amenable to curative-intent therapy, ECOG 0-2 and adequate organ function. At least 1 measurable lesion by RECIST 1.1 OR non-measurable disease (evident mucosal lesions, CNS/bone disease, lesions not meeting RECIST criteria) is permitted. Patients must have received standard first line immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy OR should be unable/unwilling to receive first line treatment. Key exclusion criteria include patients unable to take pills by mouth, serious medical co-morbidity or autoimmune disease, immunocompromised patients and other active malignancy. Primary endpoint is to demonstrate feasibility of decentralized clinical trials, secondary outcomes include overall response rate, progression free and overall survival and toxicity. Additional goals are to evaluate patient impact of decentralized treatment through surveys and interviews After initial screening and evaluation, patients are remotely consented and will receive study drugs by mail. All patients will receive the same treatment of Methotrexate 9mg/m 2 PO weekly, Erlotinib 150 mg PO daily, and Celecoxib 200 mg PO BID, each cycle will be 28 days. Treatment will continue until disease progression or treatment tolerance, study duration is for 2 years. All subsequent clinical and laboratory monitoring and response assessments (every 3 cycles) will be remotely performed or have an option for local testing. Enrollment began July 2025 and 4 out of planned 25 patients have been accrued. FDA IND:174540. Clinical trial information: NCT06997068 .
Differentiation and stage as independent predictors of survival in laryngeal neuroendocrine carcinoma: A SEER analysis.
Visa, Ines, Li, Shenduo , Lou, Yanyan, Zhao, Yujie, Lou, Yanyan , Zhao, Yujie

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.e18149 Get It

e18149 Background: Laryngeal neuroendocrine carcinoma (LNEC) is rare and biologically heterogeneous. The independent prognostic roles of tumor differentiation and stage remain incompletely defined. Methods: Patients diagnosed with LNEC (2000–2022) were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were estimated using a Kaplan–Meier analysis. Tumor differentiation (Diff) was harmonized across SEER grade fields: legacy Grade Recode (through 2017) was used when available; otherwise, Grade Clinical/Pathological (2018+) codes (1=well, 2=moderate, 3=poor, 4=undifferentiated) defined Diff. Multivariable Cox regression adjusted for stage, Diff, age, and sex. Cases with missing survival time, stage, or Diff were excluded (n=97). Results: The cohort included 157 patients (median age 63 years; 63% male). Diff was well in 4%, moderate in 29%, poor in 34%, and undifferentiated in 12% of patients. At diagnosis, 22% of patients had localized, 27% had regional, and 28% had distant disease. Treatments included surgery in 31%, chemotherapy in 42%, and adjuvant radiation in 13% of patients. Median OS differed significantly by Diff, ranging from 52.5 months (mo) for well, 90 mo for moderate, 12 mo for poor, and 17 mo for undifferentiated (p<0.001). Five-year OS was 50%, 58%, 23%, and 37%, respectively, with a similar gradient for CSS (p=0.001). Survival remained differentiation-associated within surgical (p=0.004) and chemotherapeutic subgroups (p<0.001). Median OS by stage was 96 mo for localized disease, 30 mo for regional nodes only, 8.5–7.5 mo for regional direct extension ± nodes, and 11 mo for distant disease. On multivariable analysis, stage and differentiation—driven primarily by poorly differentiated tumors—were independently associated with OS. Conclusions: Both tumor differentiation and stage independently predicted survival in LNEC, indicating that tumor biology and anatomic extent each contribute to prognosis. Outcomes remain suboptimal in poorly differentiated and advanced-stage LNEC, underscoring the need for treatment optimization and clinical trial development. Variable HR (95% CI) p Differentiation (Diff) Moderate vs Well 1.76 (0.49–6.31) 0.39 Poor vs Well 6.11 (1.63–22.93) 0.007 Undifferentiated vs Well 2.28 (0.60–8.76) 0.23 Stage Nodes only vs Localized 2.21 (1.14–4.38) 0.023 Direct extension only vs Localized 14.04 (2.44–80.97) 0.003 Direct + nodes vs Localized 7.49 (3.19–17.63) <0.001 Distant vs Localized 3.34 (1.63–6.83) 0.001 Male vs Female 2.28 (1.34–3.89) 0.002