Results of radiotherapy in oropharyngeal carcinomas

Abstract

ObjectiveTo present the results of radiotherapy treatment in patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas. Material and methodsRetrospective study of a cohort of 359 patients treated with radiotherapy, including chemo- and bio-radiotherapy, during the period 2000−2019. Information on human papillomavirus (HPV) status was available for 202 patients, of whom 26.2% were HPV-positive. ResultsFive-year local recurrence-free survival was 73.5% (95% CI: 68.8%–78.2%). The variables that were related to local disease control in a multivariate study were the local tumor extension category and the HPV status. Five-year local recurrence-free survival for patients with cT1 tumors was 90.0%, for cT2 88.0%, for cT3 70.6%, and for cT4 42.3%. Five-year local recurrence-free survival for HPV-negative tumors was 67.2% and for HPV-positive tumors 93.3%. Five-year specific-disease survival was 64.4% (95% CI: 59.1%–69.7%). Variables that were related to specific survival in a multivariate study were the patient's general condition, local and regional extent of the tumor, and HPV status. ConclusionsFive-year local recurrence-free survival of patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy was 73.5%. Variables that were related to local control were local tumor extension and HPV status.