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Analysis of Risk Factors of Predictive Local Tumor Control in Oral Cavity Cancer

  • Head and Neck Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) depends heavily on locoregional control. In this study, we sought to determine the independent prognosticators for local tumor control, disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) rates in a series of OSCC patients undergoing radical surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 827 consecutive OSCC patients undergoing radical surgery from January 1998 to March 2005. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed in patients with pT4 tumors, positive lymph node(s), or close margins (≤4 mm). Local control rates and survivals were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

On multivariate analysis (MVA), unfavorable prognostic factors for local control were pathological margins ≤7 mm (P < 0.001), pathological tumor depth ≥10 mm (P < 0.001), pathological positive lymph node(s) (P = 0.001), and the presence of betel quid chewing (P = 0.012). The same predictors, with the exception of betel quid chewing and pathological positive lymph node(s), were independently associated with DSS and OS in MVA. A prognostic scoring system was formulated by summing up the four significant local control covariates from MVA. Patients with scores of 3–4 had a significantly poorer local control rate compared to patients with scores of 0–2 (score 3 versus score 0–2: P < 0.001; score 4 versus score 0–2: P < 0.001)

Conclusions

Taken together, our data suggest that pathological margins and pathological tumor depth are major independent prognosticators not only for local tumor control, but also for DSS and OS.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grant CMRPG 32034 from the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chun-Ta Liao MD, I-How Chen MD & Shiang-Fu Huang MD

  2. Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Joseph Tung-Chieh Chang MD, MHA

  3. Medical Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Hung-Ming Wang MD

  4. Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Shu-Hang Ng MD

  5. Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chuen Hsueh MD & Li-Yu Lee MD

  6. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chih-Hung Lin MD

  7. Medical Biotechnology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Ann-Joy Cheng PhD

  8. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Tzu-Chen Yen MD, PhD

  9. Head and Neck Oncology Group, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chun-Ta Liao MD, Joseph Tung-Chieh Chang MD, MHA, Hung-Ming Wang MD, Shu-Hang Ng MD, Chuen Hsueh MD, Li-Yu Lee MD, Chih-Hung Lin MD, I-How Chen MD, Shiang-Fu Huang MD, Ann-Joy Cheng PhD & Tzu-Chen Yen MD, PhD

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  1. Chun-Ta Liao MD
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  2. Joseph Tung-Chieh Chang MD, MHA
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  3. Hung-Ming Wang MD
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  4. Shu-Hang Ng MD
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  6. Li-Yu Lee MD
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  7. Chih-Hung Lin MD
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  8. I-How Chen MD
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  9. Shiang-Fu Huang MD
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  11. Tzu-Chen Yen MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tzu-Chen Yen MD, PhD.

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Liao, CT., Chang, J.TC., Wang, HM. et al. Analysis of Risk Factors of Predictive Local Tumor Control in Oral Cavity Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 15, 915–922 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9761-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9761-5

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