Emi J. Yoshida

Incidence of Oropharyngeal Cancer Among Elderly Patients in the United States.

Importance An escalating incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been reported predominantly among middle-aged adults. However, HPV infection is believed to occur many years before cancer develops, and tissue studies suggest that HPV DNA is found in the majority of OPSCC diagnosed in patients 65 years or older. Objective To update the trends in OPSCC incidence using US cancer registry data, with an emphasis on age-specific trends. Design, Setting, and Participants Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000-2012) were queried to compare changes in incidence and survival trends in OPSCC with selected tobacco-related cancers (larynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, lung) and an HPV-related cancer (anus). A total of 40 264 patients who received a diagnosis of OPSCC from 2000 to 2012 were included. Elderly patients were defined as those 65 years or older. Main Outcomes and Measures The annual percentage change in OPSCC incidence from 2000 to 2012, stratified according to age group. Results Among the 40 264 patients who received a diagnosis of OPSCC from 2000 to 2012, 13 313 (33.1%) were aged 65 years or older and 80.3% were male. Significant increases in the age-adjusted incidence of OPSCC were observed during the study period for both younger adults aged 45 to 64 years (annual percentage change [APC], 2.31; 95% CI, 1.76-2.86; P < .001) and patients 65 years or older (APC, 2.92; 95% CI, 2.32-3.51; P < .001). These changes were driven predominantly by base-of-tongue and tonsil cancers in men. Concomitantly, the incidence of tobacco-associated head and neck cancers decreased for elderly patients (larynx: APC, -1.54; 95% CI, -2.00 to -1.08; P < .001; oral cavity: APC, -1.23; 95% CI, -1.84 to -0.62; P = .001; hypopharynx: APC, -2.44; 95% CI, -3.01 to -1.86; P < .001), whereas the incidence of anal cancer significantly increased (APC, 4.42; 95% CI, 3.28 to 5.57; P < .001). Furthermore, improved overall and cause-specific survival over time were observed for both younger and elderly patients with OPSCC. Nevertheless, absolute cause-specific survival remained worse for elderly patients (3-year CSS, 60.8%; 95% CI, 59.6%-61.9%) in comparison with those aged 45 to 64 years (75.7%; 95% CI, 75.1%-76.4%; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance The incidence of OPSCC is increasing among elderly patients in the United States, likely driven by HPV-associated cancers. Given the unique challenges related to treating elderly patients with OPSCC, their limited enrollment in clinical trials, and the aging US population, clinical studies investigating improved therapeutic strategies for elderly patients with HPV-positive OPSCC should be performed.

Treatment at high‐volume facilities and academic centers is independently associated with improved survival in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer

The treatment of head and neck cancers is complex and associated with significant morbidity, requiring multidisciplinary care and physician expertise. Thus, facility characteristics, such as clinical volume and academic status, may influence outcomes.

Quantitative Ultrasonic Nakagami Imaging of Neck Fibrosis After Head and Neck Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE To investigate the feasibility of ultrasound Nakagami imaging to quantitatively assess radiation-induced neck fibrosis, a common sequela of radiation therapy (RT) to the head and neck. METHODS AND MATERIALS In a pilot study, 40 study participants were enrolled and classified into 3 subgroups: (1) a control group of 12 healthy volunteers; (2) an asymptomatic group of 11 patients who had received intensity modulated RT for head and neck cancer and had experienced no neck fibrosis; and (3) a symptomatic group of 17 post-RT patients with neck fibrosis. Each study participant underwent 1 ultrasound study in which scans were performed in the longitudinal orientation of the bilateral neck. Three Nakagami parameters were calculated to quantify radiation-induced tissue injury: Nakagami probability distribution function, shape, and scaling parameters. Physician-based assessments of the neck fibrosis were performed according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group late morbidity scoring scheme, and patient-based fibrosis assessments were rated based on symptoms such as pain and stiffness. RESULTS Major discrepancies existed between physician-based and patient-based assessments of radiation-induced fibrosis. Significant differences in all Nakagami parameters were observed between the control group and 2 post-RT groups. Moreover, significant differences in Nakagami shape and scaling parameters were observed among asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. Compared with the control group, the average Nakagami shape parameter value increased by 32.1% (P<.001), and the average Nakagami scaling parameter increased by 55.7% (P<.001) for the asymptomatic group, whereas the Nakagami shape parameter increased by 74.1% (P<.001) and the Nakagami scaling parameter increased by 83.5% (P<.001) for the symptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasonic Nakagami imaging is a potential quantitative tool to characterize radiation-induced asymptomatic and symptomatic neck fibrosis.

Facility Volume and Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION Definitive treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is challenging owing to its rarity, complicated regional anatomy, and the intensity of therapy. In contrast to other head and neck cancers, the effect of facility volume has not been well described for NPC. METHODS AND MATERIALS The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with stage II-IVB NPC diagnosed from 2004 to 2014 and treated with definitive radiation. Patients with incomplete staging, unknown receipt or timing of treatment, unknown follow-up duration, incomplete socioeconomic information, or treatment outside the reporting facility were excluded. High-volume facilities (HVFs) were defined as the top 5% of facilities according to the annual facility volume. RESULTS The present analysis included 3941 NPC patients treated at 804 facilities with a median follow-up duration of 59.4 months, including 1025 patients (26.0%) treated at HVFs. Treatment at HVFs was associated with significantly improved overall survival (OS) on multivariable analysis (hazard ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.69-0.90; P=.001). In propensity score-matched cohorts, 5-year OS was 69.1% versus 63.3% at HVFs versus lower volume facilities (LVFs), respectively (P=.003). Similar results were seen when facility volume was analyzed as a continuous variable. The effect of facility volume on survival varied by academic status (P=.002 for interaction). At academic centers, the propensity score-matched cohorts had 5-year OS of 71.4% compared with 62.4% (P<.001) at HVFs and LVFs, respectively. In contrast, the 5-year OS was 63.5% versus 67.9% (P=.68) in propensity score-matched patients at nonacademic HVFs and LVFs. CONCLUSIONS Treatment at HVFs was associated with improved OS for patients with NPC, with the effect exclusively seen at academic centers.

Predictors of survival in head and neck mucosal melanoma

OBJECTIVES To evaluate hospital-based data of head and neck mucosal melanoma patients in order to identify predictors of survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS The National Cancer Data Base was used to identify 1368 patients with head and neck mucosal melanoma diagnosed between the years of 2004 and 2012. The Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to estimate overall survival, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of covariates on survival after adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS Median follow-up was 55.2months. Median survival of all patients was 29.3months, and the 5-year survival was 27.4%. After adjusting for other prognostic factors in multivariate analysis, paranasal sinus location [hazard ratio (HR)=1.54, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.30-1.82, P<0.001)] and the use of radiotherapy alone for definitive local treatment (HR=2.27, 95% CI=1.72-2.98, P<0.001) were associated with worse survival. Similar results were seen in the subgroup of patients with complete clinical staging information. In terms of patterns of care, the use of combined surgery and radiotherapy as the primary local treatment modality has significant increased from 2004 and 2012 (P=0.03). CONCLUSION Outcomes in mucosal melanoma of the head and neck remain suboptimal, despite increased use of multimodality local therapy, likely due to the high risk of distant metastases. Mucosal melanomas arising from the paranasal sinuses have particularly poor prognosis. Novel therapeutic paradigms for head and neck mucosal melanoma, incorporating systemic therapies to decrease the risk of distant relapse, should be pursued in clinical trials.

Impact of concomitant chemoradiation on survival for patients with T1-2N1 head and neck cancer

Single‐modality radiotherapy is considered a standard‐of‐care option for certain stage III, T1‐2N1 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). The role of concomitant chemoradiation is not well established because there have been no studies comparing chemoradiation with radiation alone in this population.

Postoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer aged 70 or older with positive margins or extranodal extension and the influence of nodal classification

Postoperative concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improves outcomes for younger adults with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and positive margins or extranodal extension (ENE), but its benefit for older adults is not well established.

Development of a novel salivary gland cancer lymph node staging system: Lymph Node Staging for Salivary Cancer

Current lymph node (LN) staging for salivary gland cancer (SGC) is extrapolated from mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, given its unique biology and clinical behavior, it is possible that a SGC‐specific LN staging system would be more accurate.

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

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.