Upfront neck dissection for treatment selection and improvement in quality of life as a novel treatment paradigm for deintensification in HPV+ OPSCC.

Abstract

Locoregionally advanced HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has excellent cure rates, although current treatment regimens are accompanied by acute and long-term toxicities. We designed a phase II de-escalation trial for patients with HPV+OPSCC to evaluate the feasibility of an upfront neck dissection to individualize definitive treatment selection to improve quality of life without compromising survival. Patients with T1-3, N0-2 HPV+ OPSCC underwent an upfront neck dissection with primary tumor biopsy. Patients with a single lymph node less than six centimeters, with no extracapsular spread(ECS), and no primary site adverse features underwent transoral surgery (Arm A). Patients who had two or more positive lymph nodes with no ECS, or those with primary site adverse features were treated with radiation alone (Arm B). Patients who had ECS in any lymph node were treated with chemoradiation (Arm C). The primary endpoint was quality of life at 1 year compared to a matched historical control. Thirty-four patients were enrolled and underwent selective neck dissection. Based on pathologic characteristics, 14 patients were assigned to arm A, 10 patients to arm B, and 9 to arm C. A significant improvement was observed in HNQOL compared to historical controls (-2.6 vs -11.9, p=0.034). With a median follow-up of 37 months, the 3-year overall survival was 100% and estimated 3-year estimated progression free survival was 96% (95% CI: 76-99%). A neck dissection driven treatment paradigm warrants further research as a de-intensification strategy.