Survival Rates After Surgical or Non-surgical Treatment for Advanced Resectable Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx

Abstract

Objective: To determine the difference in survival rates between surgical and non-surgical treatment for resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx.Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review of 53 patients in a single institution who preferred surgical treatment and 11 patients who preferred non-surgical treatment.Results: The overall survival probability rate of the surgically-treated patients was 90% at 1 year, 76% at 2 years, and 61% at 5 years, while that of the non-surgically—treated patients was 60%, 30%, and 15%, respectively. The difference in the cause-specific survival rate between the 2 groups was significant (logrank test, p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the distribution of patient's age, T-stage, N-stage, and performance status. However, the Cox multivariate analysis revealed that the treatment was a significant independent predictor.Conclusions: The results suggest that when non-surgical treatment is given for resectable cancer, the probability of survival from the disease is 30% and death would occur within 2 years. The survival rate is half that of those who undergo radical surgery (67%).