How would you approach post-op radiation recommendations in patient who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced oral cavity cancers (oral tongue) who have a complete pathologic response (pCR) after surgical resection?

Topics: Head and Neck Cancers • Radiation Oncology

Would a complete pathologic response impact your dose or decision to treat in absence of studies?

Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution

While randomized studies of induction chemo followed by local therapy compared with local therapy alone in the 90’s were all negative, it was clear that responding patients did better than non-responding ones. An example is a study (Licitra et al., PMID 12525526) of quite advanced oral ca...

Comments

Radiation Oncologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Thank you.

Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice

I agree with @Avraham Eisbruch's assessment for the case in question. It should, however, be acknowledged that we have not had a study that specifically asks this question in a randomized fashion. Until then, we have relied on data from studies like those quoted by Dr. Eisbruch to guide us. What is ...

Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice

This phase 2 study from Tata mandated chemo RT after NACT for oral cavity cancer irrespective of response.Chaukar et al., PMID 34871101.

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