Moore, Eric J.

ObjectivesTo assess the outcomes of abdominal dermal‐fat grafting following superficial and total parotidectomy.MethodsA retrospective chart review of parotidectomy patients was performed. Patients were divided into four groups based on surgical extent and grafting status: superficial parotidectomy (SP), superficial parotidectomy with grafting (SPg), total parotidectomy (TP), and total parotidectomy with grafting (TPg). Complication rates and operative times were then compared between surgically matched groups (SP vs. SPg, TP vs. TPg). Complications included graft necrosis, gustatory sweating, first‐bite syndrome, infection, hematoma, sialocele, and seroma. Data was analyzed via chi‐square and two‐sample t testing, logistic regression, and one‐way analysis of variance.ResultsThe cohort consisted of 330 patients: 106 SP (32.12%), 61 SPg (18.48%), 82 TP (24.85%), and 81 TPg (24.55%). No donor site complications occurred. TPg resulted in seven graft necroses (8.64%), and 22 reported gustatory sweating (27.20% vs. 10 TP patients (12.2%), P = 0.016); SPg resulted in two necroses (3.28%). There were no other statistically significant differences in complication rates. Graft recipients receiving adjuvant radiation were more likely to develop necrosis (odds ratio [OR] 4.60, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–18.27, P = .0194). Patients who developed gustatory sweating were 8.38 years younger (95% CI 2.66–14.10, P = 0.002, follow‐up time > 48 days). Grafting did not increase operative times (TP/TPg: mean = 275.91/263.65 minutes, standard error of the mean = 41.96/33.75, P = 0.822).ConclusionAn abdominal dermal‐fat graft is an excellent reconstructive choice for a parotidectomy defect and is not associated with increased complication rates or prolonged operative time.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 130:2144–2147, 2020

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the oncologic and functional results of treating oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with transoral robotic surgery and neck dissection as monotherapy. A review was performed, including all patients who underwent transoral robotic surgery and neck dissection as the only means of therapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma from March 2007 to July 2009 at a single tertiary care academic medical center. We reviewed all cases with ≥ 24-month follow-up. Functional outcomes included tracheostomy dependence and oral feeding ability. Oncologic outcomes were stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status and tobacco use and included local, regional, and distant disease control, as well as disease-specific and recurrence-free survival. Eighteen patients met study criteria. Ten patients (55.6%) were able to eat orally in the immediate postoperative period, and 8 (44.4%) required a temporary nasogastric tube for a mean duration of 13.6 days (range 3 to 24 days) before returning to an oral diet. No patient required placement of a gastrostomy tube, and all patients are tracheostomy-tube–free. Among the HPV-positive nonsmokers (12/18, 66.7%), Kaplan-Meier estimated 3-year local, regional, and distant control rates were 90.9%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-specific survival and recurrence-free survival were 100% and 90.9%, respectively. No complications occurred.

Background: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) has poor prognosis with median overall survival (OS) of ∼6 months. We previously reported high PD-1/PDL-1 staining in ATC, raising the possibility of the productive application of the immunotherapeutic pembrolizumab. However, having found pembrolizumab to anecdotally have limited single-agent activity in ATC, we sought to alternatively define whether pembrolizumab might synergistically combine with chemoradiotherapy as initial ATC therapy. Methods: An investigator-initiated therapeutic phase 2 trial of pembrolizumab, 200 mg intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks, combined with chemoradiotherapy (docetaxel/doxorubicin, 20 mg/m 2 each IV weekly plus volumetric modulated arc therapy) was initiated as frontline therapy (with or without surgery) in ATC to assess efficacy and toxicities. Six-month OS was selected as the primary endpoint using a Simon's optimal design with interim analysis (targeting accrual of 25 patients; Cohort A: prior resection, Cohort B: no resection). Based on a prior patient cohort-treated similarly, but without pembrolizumab, the design was such that, if 6-month true survival is 75%, the probability of declaring the approach worthy of further pursuit would be 91%. Results: Three patients were enrolled, two with rapidly enlarging unresectable neck masses. Early tumor responses were favorable in all three, and all three satisfactorily completed: intended radiotherapy, preceding and radiotherapy-concurrent pembrolizumab, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy. However, all three patients died <6 months following therapy initiation—one from pulmonary metastases and two from otherwise unexpected fatal pulmonary complications occurring subsequent to chemoradiotherapy completion—prompting study closure. Conclusions: Although initially tolerated and effective in terms of locoregional disease control, disappointing survival outcomes compared with historical controls raise uncertainty that the piloted approach merits further pursuit in ATC.

AbstractBackgroundThe incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is rising, even in elderly patients. The outcomes of transoral surgery (TOS) in this population are not entirely known.MethodsA retrospective review was performed at two institutions from October 2003 to September 2016 on patients 70 years or older with HPV‐related OPSCC treated with TOS.ResultsA total of 75 patients were included with a mean age of 74 years (70‐87 years). At a median follow‐up of 35.7 months, 3‐year overall survival was 81.5% and disease‐specific survival was 94.3%. Advanced cT stage (odds ratio, 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.13‐6.64) negatively impacted OS. Conjunctive consolidation was performed to create a staging system with patients older than 80 years, severe comorbidity, and cT3‐4 having worse survival.ConclusionsElderly patients with HPV‐related OPSCC treated with TOS have excellent survival and therefore should not be excluded from such therapy based on age alone.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if dose de-escalation from 60 to 66 Gy to 30 to 36 Gy of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for selected patients with human papillomavirus–associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma could maintain historical rates for disease control while reducing toxicity and preserving swallow function and quality of life (QOL). PATIENTS AND METHODS MC1273 was a single-arm phase II trial testing an aggressive course of RT de-escalation after surgery. Eligibility criteria included patients with p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, smoking history of 10 pack-years or less, and negative margins. Cohort A (intermediate risk) received 30 Gy delivered in 1.5-Gy fractions twice per day over 2 weeks along with 15 mg/m 2 docetaxel once per week. Cohort B included patients with extranodal extension who received the same treatment plus a simultaneous integrated boost to nodal levels with extranodal extension to 36 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions twice per day. The primary end point was locoregional tumor control at 2 years. Secondary end points included 2-year progression-free survival, overall survival, toxicity, swallow function, and patient-reported QOL. RESULTS Accrual was from September 2013 to June 2016 (N = 80; cohort A, n = 37; cohort B, n = 43). Median follow-up was 36 months, with a minimum follow-up of 25 months. The 2-year locoregional tumor control rate was 96.2%, with progression-free survival of 91.1% and overall survival of 98.7%. Rates of grade 3 or worse toxicity at pre-RT and 1 and 2 years post-RT were 2.5%, 0%, and 0%. Swallowing function improved slightly between pre-RT and 12 months post-RT, with one patient requiring temporary feeding tube placement. CONCLUSION Aggressive RT de-escalation resulted in locoregional tumor control rates comparable to historical controls, low toxicity, and little decrement in swallowing function or QOL.

6071 Background: Phase III data suggests a benefit of HDC in the adjuvant setting, but the effect of HDC and WC on long term survival and for HPV+ HNSCC is unknown. Methods: Data from a published retrospective study (Geiger Oral Onc 2013) of HDC vs WC in resected HNSCC was updated. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method for all pts and by HPV status. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess impact of HPV status, smoking, age, HDC vs WC, and cumulative cisplatin dose ( < 200mg/m2 vs ≥200 mg/m2). Results: 51 patients (pts) received HDC and 53 WC. Median follow-up was 8.7 yrs (0.8-13.7). For the whole cohort, HDC had significantly improved OS over WC (p = 0.0095; 5- and 10-yr OS 84% and 80% vs 72% and 60%). No OS benefit for HDC was seen in pts with HPV+HNSCC (5- and 10-yr OS 90% and 87% for HDC and 81% and 81% for WC; p = 0.51). For HPV-negative HNSCC, OS had borderline significance with HDC vs WC (5- and 10-yr OS 73% and 68% vs 65% and 44%; p = 0.06). For the whole cohort, there was no difference in 5- and 10-yr RFS (78% and 74% for HDC vs 72% and 62% for WC; p = 0.32). When analyzed by HPV status, there was no difference in RFS with HDC or WC for either HPV+ (p = 0.43) or HPV-negative HNSCC (p = 0.97). On multivariate analyses of OS for all pts, only HPV status was significant (p = 0.0011; HR 0.27, CI 0.12-0.62). For HPV+ HNSCC, there was no significant predictor of OS. For non-HPV HNSCC, the benefit of HDC approached significance with a decreased risk of death (HR 0.38; p = 0.07). For all pts, those who received ≥200mg/m2 had significantly improved OS (5-yr 90% vs 72% and 10-yr 86% vs 61%; p = 0.004). By HPV status, cumulative dose had no significant effect on OS. Conclusions: OS is better with HDC and with cumulative dose > 200 mg/m2 in unselected patients. The benefit of cisplatin is likely higher for non-HPV HNSCC. A difference in OS with no difference in RFS suggests non cancer-related causes of death in the WC cohort. Ability to receive HDC could be a surrogate marker of comorbidity. [Table: see text]

Objectives/HypothesisSinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare malignant neoplasm. No study to date has analyzed the impact that nodal metastases and distant metastases at diagnosis have on overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS).Study DesignRetrospective database review.MethodsThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for cases of SNMM. Descriptive statistics were used analyze patient demographic and clinicopathologic variables. The Kaplan‐Meier model was used to analyze survival, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis.ResultsThree hundred twenty‐eight cases of SNMM were identified. The most frequent sinonasal anatomic location was the nasal cavity in 279 (73.0%) patients, followed by the maxillary sinus in 60 (15.7%) patients. Regional nodal metastases at diagnosis occurred in 33 (8.6%) patients, whereas distant metastases at diagnosis occurred in 41 (10.7%) patients. Five‐year OS was 22.7%, and 5‐year DSS was 26.8%. The presence of positive nodes at diagnosis (OS P < .0001, DSS P < .0001), distant metastases at diagnosis (OS P = .0442, DSS P = .0442), primary tumor site (OS P < .0001, DSS P < .0001), and increasing age (OS P = .0012, DSS P = .0016) were found to be significant as negative predictors of OS and DSS.ConclusionsSNMM is a rare pathologic entity with a poor prognosis. The presence of nodal and distant metastases at diagnosis are negative prognostic factors in OS and DSS. These factors can be used in the development of new models of risk stratification and to inform treatment strategies and surveillance patterns.Level of EvidenceNALaryngoscope, 130:622–627, 2020