Prognostic factors and assessment of staging systems for head and neck soft tissue sarcomas in adults

Objectives

The primary objectives of this study were to analyse the outcome of patients diagnosed with head and neck soft tissue sarcomas (HNSTS) and to identify relevant prognostic factors. As well as this, we compared the prognostic value of two staging systems proposed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

Methods

From 07/1988 to 01/2008, the charts of 42 adult patients were retrospectively reviewed. Potential prognostic factors were analysed according to overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Results

At 5 years, OS was 57%, DFS 47% and DSS 72%. On univariate analysis, statistically significant prognostic factors were for OS, distant or lymph node metastasis at diagnosis (p = 0.032), for DFS, margins after surgery (p = 0.007), for DSS, regional or distant metastasis at diagnosis (p = 0.002), initial AJCC and MSKCC stage (p = 0.018 and p = 0.048) and margins after surgery (p = 0.042). On multivariate analysis, margins remained statistically significant for DFS (p = 0.039) when there was a trend with the initial AJCC stage (p = 0.054) for OS. The AJCC staging system was of more prognostic value than the MSKCC staging system.

Conclusions

Achieving clear margins after surgery is vital for improved local control and the best chance of survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not shown to provide additional benefit. To better identify prognostic factors, it seems essential to set up national and international databases allowing multicenter registration for those patients.     

Soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck: outcome and prognostic factors

Background. Soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck are uncommon malignant tumors. Up till now, their treatment has not been standardized. We retrospectively reviewed the records of adult patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck to identify prognostic factors affecting local control and survival. Methods. The records of 48 adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the head and neck region treated between 1987 and 1997 were reviewed. The data were analyzed for the impact of potential prognostic factors on local control, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Factors evaluated were age, sex, tumor grade, T-stage, bone invasion, site, surgical margin, treatment modality, and radiation dose. Results. The 5-year actuarial local control rate of the entire group was 40%. Tumor size was the only predictor for local control on multivariate analysis. Combined surgery and radiotherapy appeared to yield superior local control compared with surgery alone (46% vs 35%); however, the difference was not significant (P < 0.06). The 5-year actuarial overall and disease-free survivals were 48% and 34%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, tumor size was a significant factor for local control and for overall and disease-free survivals, while histological grade was a significant predictor only for disease-free survival. Conclusion. Tumor size was a significant predictor factor for local control and for overall and disease-free survivals. Histological grade was another significant predictor, affecting only disease-free survival. There was a trend for better local control with the addition of postoperative radiotherapy, although the difference did not reach significance, because of probable selection bias among the patients who were indicated for radiotherapy. Received: December 14, 1998 / Accepted: May 24, 2000     

Pediatric sarcomas and related tumors of the head and neck

Sarcomas of the head and neck region are a rare group of tumors in children and present challenges with regard to evaluation and treatment. Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most common sarcomas of the head and neck in children. Presence of metastases and complete surgical resectability continue to be the most relevant clinical prognostic factors in patients with sarcomas. However, many patients present with unresectable tumors; these require radiation therapy, which is associated with concerns about immediate and long-term side effects. New technologies, including proton beam therapy (PBT), appear very promising in terms of reducing acute and long-term toxic effects. A multi-disciplinary approach is required for best long-term outcomes in children with head and neck sarcomas.     

Radiation-induced sarcomas of the head and neck

With improved outcomes associated with radiotherapy, radiation-induced sarcomas (RIS) are increasingly seen in long-term survivors of head and neck cancers, with an estimated risk of up to 0.3%. They exhibit no subsite predilection within the head and neck and can arise in any irradiated tissue of mesenchymal origin. Common histologic subtypes of RIS parallel their de novo counterparts and include osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma/sarcoma nitricoxide synthase, and fibrosarcoma. While imaging features of RIS are not pathognomonic, large size, extensive local invasion with bony destruction, marked enhancement within a prior radiotherapy field, and an appropriate latency period are suggestive of a diagnosis of RIS. RIS development may be influenced by factors such as radiation dose, age at initial exposure, exposure to chemotherapeutic agents and genetic tendency. Precise pathogenetic mechanisms of RIS are poorly understood and both directly mutagenizing effects of radiotherapy as well as changes in microenvironments are thought to play a role. Management of RIS is challenging, entailing surgery in irradiated tissue and a limited scope for further radiotherapy and chemotherapy. RIS is associated with significantly poorer outcomes than stage-matched sarcomas that arise independent of irradiation and surgical resection with clear margins seems to offer the best chance for cure.     

Estimating the risks and benefits before salvage surgery for recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

IntroductionThe risks associated with salvage surgery of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a previously irradiated field needs to be balanced against the expected survival benefits. We want to identify preoperative predictive factors for overall and disease-specific survival (OS/DSS) and for the development of serious (Clavien-Dindo, CD≥III) complications following salvage surgery for radiorecurrent SCC to help surgeons, patients, and caregivers in the decision-making process in this setting.Materials and methodsThe records of 234 patients presenting to the Lorraine Cancer Institute with locoregional radiorecurrent SCC were reviewed. The primary endpoint was OS, secondary endpoints were DSS, OS without tracheostomy/gastrostomy, and the risk of CD≥III complications. Multivariate analyses were carried out to explore preoperative factors associated with survival and the risk of postoperative complications.ResultsWith a median follow-up time of 19 months, 5-year OS since the first salvage surgery was 28.3%, 5-year DSS was 38.9%. 2- and 5-year functional OS were 45.6% and 27.2%. rcT-rcN, and WUNHCI ≥4 were both independent significant preoperative predictors of OS and DSS. 30-days postoperative complications occurred in 44.4% of patients (28 CD I, 24 CD II, 34 CD III, 11 CD IV, 7 CD V). A salvage procedure involving T+N plus the presence of a WUHNCI ≥4 was the only independent predictor of CD≥III complications.ConclusionWhen discussing with the patients and the caregivers salvage surgery for recurrent head and neck SCC, a careful evaluation of the preoperative comorbidities by the WUHNCI tool can reliably predict the expected risks and benefits from the procedure.     

Sarcomas of the head and neck in adult patients: current concepts and future perspectives

Sarcomas comprise a heterogeneous and biologically diverse group of malignant neoplasms having as a common denominator their origin from mesenchymal cells. Head and neck sarcomas account for 4 to less than 20% of total body sarcomas depending on the criteria, such as age of patients (pediatric vs adult population), type of sarcomas (soft-tissue vs bony sarcomas) and site of location. Although head and neck sarcomas occur infrequently in adults, in the pediatric population one in three sarcomas will occur in the head and neck region. Most head and neck sarcomas are of the soft-tissue type, with only 20% being of bony or cartilaginous origin. Sarcomas display a diverse array of histologies and a wide spectrum of clinical behavior, ranging from relatively slow growing lesions to aggressive locally and regionally destructive tumors with the potential for systemic metastases. Osteosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, pleomorphic sarcomas (malignant fibrous histiocytomas), fibrosarcomas and angiosarcomas are among the most common histologic types of sarcoma found in the head and neck. Surgery has been the primary therapeutic approach for the management of head and neck sarcomas. Survival rates for head and neck sarcomas suggest worse outcomes than for their extremity counterparts. Lymph node metastasis only occurs in 3–10% of sarcomas of the head and neck. An improvement in local disease control has recently been suggested with the combined use of surgery and radiotherapy. Conflicting results have been reported on the benefit from the use of chemotherapy as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant regimen, especially for high-grade sarcomas in long-term survival or local disease control. Encouraging results have recently been reported with the use of molecular targeted therapies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antiangiogenetic agents.     

Surfing prognostic factors in head and neck cancer at the millennium

The ability to reliably predict cancer outcome could tailor therapy to the aggressiveness of the tumour to achieve the best results in terms of loco-regional control, overall survival and quality of life. Retrospective and prospective clinical trials involving large series of patients have validated some predictive clinical and pathological factors, whereas the utility of many other prognostic factors has not been established. This has led to some confusion in clinical practice. In order to clarify the significance, role and cost of these prognostic factors we carried out a Medline search of all papers published between 1993 and 1998 concerning the reliability and cost of markers with prognostic significance, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and assessed the results according to a number of criteria relating to reliability and cost. Regarding reliability we classified prognostic factors into: (1) those with a proven significance based on the fact that they were unanimously reported as having an independent statistical correlation with outcome and prognosis; and (2) those for which results were not unanimous, and which significance is still controversial. Cost analysis showed a substantial difference between validated tests which are of low cost and experimental tests which are expensive. Based on these data regarding both the reliability and cost of each prognostic factor, we propose guidelines for their use in clinical practice in the year 2000.     

Soft-tissue sarcomas of the head and neck in children

Thirty-two children aged three months to 17 years (median six years) were diagnosed with soft-tissue sarcoma of the head and neck and treated at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1981. Thirty-one received chemotherapy and all received radiation therapy (RT). Twenty-five patients had pre-treatment computed tomography (CT) scans, which were used for staging and treatment planning. Doses of radiation therapy ranged from 3000 to 7300 rad to the primary tumor (median 5000 rad). The overall five-year survival of the entire group of 32 patients was 75%. Ten of the 32 patients had invasive cranial parameningeal disease as demonstrated by bony erosion at the skull base, seen on CT in eight and plain radiographs in two patients. Eight of these 10 patients have developed recurrent sarcoma: four in the meninges, two locally, one regionally and one distantly. Five of these 10 children with invasive cranial parameningeal sarcoma received 3000 rad of prophylactic cranial irradiation, begun within the first 12 days of chemotherapy, and none developed meningeal disease. In contrast, only one of the 22 patients without invasive cranial parameningeal disease has relapsed (local recurrence). The data suggest that soft-tissue sarcomas of the head and neck in children without invasion into the base of the skull (invasive cranial parameningeal disease) are usually cured. CT scans are essential for staging. Patients with invasion of the base of the skull may be protected from meningeal relapse by early cranial irradiation, although they still are at high risk for relapse in other sites.     

头颈部滑膜肉瘤的治疗及预后分析

目的：探讨头颈部滑膜肉瘤的临床诊断和治疗方法,分析头颈部滑膜肉瘤的预后不良因素,为治疗该肿瘤提供借鉴。方法：回顾性分析1984年5月～2006年12月本院收治的8例头颈部滑膜肉瘤病例,单纯手术治疗5例,单纯放射治疗1例,手术加放射治疗1例,未治疗1例。复习国内外相同疾病文献36例。通过对所有患者病历资料的研究,得出头颈部滑膜肉瘤的诊断、治疗经验,并从中分析出影响头颈部滑膜肉瘤预后的因素。结果：头颈部滑膜肉瘤临床表现无特异性,鉴别诊断困难。头颈部滑膜肉瘤组织来源不清,明确诊断需病理学检查。肿瘤呈浸润性生长,手术切除安全范围及放射治疗野皆难以确定,治疗后经常复发,复发后的肿瘤恶性程度增加,并且远处转移机会增大,导致治疗失败。头颈部神经血管密集,造成广泛切除的局限性是影响预后的主要因素。头颈部滑膜肉瘤5年生存率小于20%,目前综合治疗是提高生存率的有效方法。结论：头颈部滑膜肉瘤目前无特殊的诊断方法,诊断需有经验的病理科医师配合免疫组织化学。单纯手术易复发,单纯放射治疗效果差,目前仍无有效的化疗方案。该病死亡率高,传统的扩大切除术配合放射治疗是目前唯一可行的治疗方法。     

Reirradiation of head and neck cancers. Presentation of 35 cases treated at the Gustave Roussy Institute

Thirty-five patients with head and neck carcinoma who were treated with a second course of radiotherapy for relapse or second malignancy at the Gustave Roussy Institute between 1973 and 1981 were studied. Immediate tolerance for total doses greater than 80 Gy was good but 37% of patients suffered from delayed necrosis or bleeding. Thirty-seven per cent of lesions were locally controlled at 3 months and 97% of patients showed a subjective improvement to reirradiation. Local control was obtained in 53% of patients aged between 40 and 60 as compared to 19% in other age groups, and was obtained in 55% of patients who were irradiated a second time with a dose greater than 60 Gy as compared to 8% for doses less than 60 Gy. Complications following treatment are related to failure to achieve local control and area of second treatment fields greater than 70 cm2. Survival was worse for those patients having an interval less than 12 months between the two courses of irradiation and those in whom local control was not achieved.     

头颈部肿瘤放射治疗颈部临床靶体积勾画

放射治疗是头颈部肿瘤主要的治疗手段之一。适形治疗技术的发展和影像学手段的进步为选择性放射治疗的实现提供了条件。根据NO-1期、N2-3期及术后颈部临床靶体积勾画指南行选择性颈部照射,不仅能将局部复发率控制在15％左右,而且能够减少周围正常组织及敏感器官的受照体积和剂量,从而提高治疗比。     

Prognostic factors in head and neck soft tissue sarcomas: Analysis of 128 cases

Soft tissue sarcomas make up a heterogenous group of rate malignant tumors originating from mesodermal tissues. Although there have been several improvements in diagnostic methods, staging, and treatment over the past few years, the prognosis of head and neck sarcomas remains worse than those sited at the trunk or extremities. The purpose of this retrospective study was to report the survival results of 128 consecutive patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck treated from 1953 to 1985. Of the 93 patients submitted to surgical resection, the procedure was considered radical in 67 patients. Of the operated gruop, 46 patients (49.5%) developed recurrence of disease. Thirty-two patients underwent further treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy), and 14 patients were salvaged, giving the ultimate result of 65.6% disease control rate in the operated group. The univariate survival analysis showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05) according to age, race, sex, and site or histologic type of the tumor. Radicality of surgery was an important prognostic factor affecting survival (P = 0.0014 for disease-free interval and P = 0.0183 for overall survival). The multivariate analysis showed that the radicality of surgery and tumor histology were independent prognostic factors affecting recurrence. The same variables and age group were related to the risk of death. Every effort must be made to make an early diagnosis and a radical surgical resection of these tumors must be tried (except for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma), because it offers the best chance for cure. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对腮腺影响的相关研究

 头颈部肿瘤患者放疗过程中,部分腮腺不可避免的被包在计划靶体积（PTV）中,使得此部分腮腺接受与PTV同样剂量的照射。在放疗过程中由于受患者年龄、初始腮腺体积、接受10～40 Gy剂量照射的腮腺体积（V_10-40）、患者体重、体厚及腮腺平均受照剂量等的影响使得放疗中腮腺体积最多可缩小至原体积的50%左右,并向体中线处移动,结果腮腺所受实际照射剂量高于处方剂量,造成腮腺分泌功能降低,发生严重口腔干燥症,大大影响患者日后生活质量。     

头颈部鳞癌同步放化疗研究现状

同步放化疗是治疗局部晚期头颈部鳞癌的主要治疗方案,与传统放疗相比有较多优势,不良反应虽增加,但在辅助治疗下可以耐受.其化疗药物以顺铂和氟尿嘧啶为主.先行诱导化疗,再行同步放化疗能提高局部控制率,减少远处转移,明显提高患者生存率.同步放化疗建议采用调强放疗,在选择合适的分割剂量前提下,后程加速放疗或加速超分割放疗能取得较好的疗效.     

Multicenter validation of recursive partitioning analysis classification for patients with squamous cell head and neck carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To validate the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification system for squamous cell head and neck cancer as recently reported by the VU University Medical Center. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In eight Dutch head and neck cancer centers, data necessary to classify patients according to the RPA system were retrospectively collected from the charts of a group of 780 patients treated between 1989 and 2003. The patients in this validation group were classified according to the RPA classification system. For each endpoint, the 5-year values and hazard ratios were calculated and compared with the results of the VU University Medical Center. The RPA classification system was considered valid if the hazard ratio of the validation population was within the 95% confidence interval of the VU University Medical Center study population. RESULTS: The locoregional control rate was 82%, 75%, and 63% at 5 years for those with class I, II, and III, respectively (p < 0.0001). The hazard ratio for the locoregional control rate relative to class I was 1.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.97-2.16) for class II and 2.37 (95% confidence interval, 1.57-3.57) for class III. Similar results were found for the distant metastasis, overall survival, and disease-free survival rates. CONCLUSION: The RPA classification system for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the postoperative setting, which was originally designed at one center, proved to be valid in a multicenter setting among patients included in a national multicenter study. This validated RPA classification scheme can be used to assess standard treatment strategies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the postoperative setting, as well as in the design of future prospective studies.     

Ototoxicity after radiotherapy for head and neck tumors

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of radiation-induced ototoxicity according to the total dose delivered to specific parts of the auditory system, fractionation, and chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Records of 325 patients treated for primary extracranial head and neck tumors with curative intent who received radiotherapy between 1964 and 2000 (median follow-up, 5.4 years) were retrospectively reviewed. Reconstructions of the treatment plans were generated to estimate the doses received by components of the auditory system. RESULTS: Radiotherapy-induced morbidity developed in 41.8% of patients (external ear, 33.2%; middle ear, 28.6%; and inner ear, 26.8%). Univariate/multivariate analyses indicate that total dose received by parts of the auditory system seem to be significant, though fractionation and chemoradiation may contribute to the incidence of ototoxicities. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was observed in 49 patients (15.1%). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that age (p = 0.0177 and p = 0.005) and dose to cochlea (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001) were significant, and chemoradiation (p = 0.0281 and p = 0.006) may increase the incidence of SNHL. Five-year and 10-year actuarial risk of clinically overt SNHL increased to 37% (p > 0.0001) above doses of 60.5 Gy compared to 3% at doses below 60.5 Gy. For patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, clinically overt SNHL increased to 30% compared to 18% in the no-chemotherapy group at 10 years (p = 0.0281). CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy toxicity was observed in all parts of the auditory system with median doses for incidence varying between 60 Gy to 66 Gy. Total dose to organ seems to be a significant factor though fractionation and chemo-radiation may contribute to ototoxicities.     

Recurrent retroperitoneal sarcomas: Clinical outcomes of surgical treatment and prognostic factors

Background and purposeLocoregional recurrence after resection of primary retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a challenging therapeutic issue. The objective of this study was to identify clinicopathological factors predictive of overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS) after reoperation for recurrent RPS.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively collected data from the medical records of 800 patients who underwent resection for sarcoma at our Institution, from 1983 to 2015. Among these patients, 120 were treated for retroperitoneal sarcoma and 55 had a locoregional recurrence (LR). Four of them did not undergo surgery and thus were excluded from this study leaving 51 cases available for data analysis. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors.ResultsMedian overall survival was 33 months. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 75.5%, 47.1% and 31.6% respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that extension of surgery (P = 0.026), surgical margin status (P = 0.015) and histological grade of recurrent tumor (P = 0.047) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Median DSS was 48 months. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year DSS rates were 79.2%, 53.1% and 40.9%, respectively. At multivariate analysis, predictors of DSS were extension of surgery (P = 0.004), margin status (P = 0.011), histological grade of recurrent tumor (P = 0.008), and disease free interval (DFI) (P = 0.020). As regards histological subtype of recurrent RPS, at univariate analysis, well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLS) was associated with better OS and DSS (P = 0.052 and P = 0.016 respectively) compared to dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS).ConclusionsAccording to our findings, surgery is more beneficial in patients with low-grade sarcoma, WDLS and long DFI. The achievement of clear resection margins, rather than performing a multivisceral resection, appears to be a key factor to improve OS and DSS.     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.