PCN351 REAL WORLD EVIDENCE ON PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND FRONTLINE TREATMENT PATTERNS IN LOCALLY ADVANCED SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK FROM EUROPE AND US

Abstract

To describe characteristics and treatment patterns amongst locally advanced (LA) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) patients receiving frontline, locoregional treatment. A real-world cross-sectional survey was conducted in France, Germany, UK, Spain, Italy (EU5) and US from April–September 2016. Oncologists with 5-35 years’ experience, making treatment decisions for ≥10 SCCHN patients/month were included. Physicians provided information on their next 8 consecutive SCCHN patients receiving treatment. Descriptive statistics were used. Physicians (n=236) provided data on 493 LA SCCHN patients (n=405 EU5, n=88 US). Mean patient age was 61.6 years; 80% were male. 36%, 43% and 20% of patients were stage III, stage IVa and stage IVb at diagnosis, respectively. Primary disease site was lip+oral cavity (33% of patients), oropharynx (29% of patients), larynx (19% of patients), hypopharynx (17% of patients) and other (1% of patients). 90% of patients were current/former smokers. At diagnosis, 85% of patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores 0-1. 72% of patients were non-resectable/not eligible for resection at diagnosis (77% in EU5, 49% in US). 80% of EU5 patients and 76% of US patients did not receive surgery (un-resected). 53% of un-resected patients received radiation in the LA setting (58% in EU5, 75% in US). For un-resected patients, mean ongoing duration of frontline treatment was 2.0 months. 46% of un-resected patients received both chemotherapy and RT in the LA setting (41% EU and 70% US). The most common treatments, either as monotherapy or in combination, for un-resected patients were cisplatin (62%), fluorouracil (50%) and cetuximab (34%). A high proportion of patients diagnosed with LA SCCHN were un-resected with good performance status. However, many frontline treatment regimens did not include CRT, recommended by guidelines. Future studies should evaluate outcomes of current treatments in clinical practice.