The T-N tract involvement as a new prognostic factor for PORT in locally advanced oral cavity tumors
Published in Oral Diseases, 2021
Recommended citation: D. Alterio, M. Augugliaro, M. Tagliabue, R. Bruschini, S. Gandini, L. Calabrese, P. Belloni, L. Preda, F. A. Maffini, G. Marvaso, A. Ferrari, S. Volpe, M. A. Zerella, O. Oneta, I. Turturici, A. Ombretta, F. Ruju, M. Ansarin, R. Orecchia, B. A. Jereczek-Fossa. The T‐N tract involvement as a new prognostic factor for PORT in locally advanced oral cavity tumors. Oral Diseases (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13885
Abstract Objective. The space comprised between tumor and neck lymph nodes (T-N tract) is one of the main routes of tumor spread in oral cavity tumors. Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of T-N tract involvement on the postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) outcomes.
Materials and Methods. Patients (pts) treated between 2000 and 2016 with indication to PORT were retrospectively retrieved. Inclusion criteria were: (a) locally advanced tumors of the oral cavity, (b) who received with indication to PORT (c) with a minimum follow-up of six months.
Results. One hundred and fifty-seven pts met the inclusion criteria (136 pts treated with PORT and 21 pts not treated with PORT). In the PORT cohort, the T-N tract involvement had no impact on both OS (p = .09) and LRFS (p = .2). Among the non-PORT cohort, both OS (p = .007) and LRFS (p = .017) were worse for pts with positive T-N tract compared to those with negative T-N tract. PORT improved both OS (p = .008) and LRFS (p = .003) in pts with positive T-N tract but not in those with negative T-N tract (p = .36 and p = .37, respectively).
Conclusions. Our results suggest that involvement of T-N tract should be considered as prognostic factors informing the indication to PORT.