Transoral Robotic Surgery Research Articles

0616 Effects of Oropharyngeal Rehabilitation After Transoral Robotic Surgery in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

0616 Effects of Oropharyngeal Rehabilitation After Transoral Robotic Surgery in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Predictors for Success and Failure in Transoral Robotic Surgery-A Retrospective Study in the North of the Netherlands.

Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is utilized for treating various malignancies, such as early-stage oropharyngeal cancer and lymph node metastasis of an unknown primary tumor (CUP), and also benign conditions, like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic lingual tonsillitis. However, the success and failure of TORS have not been analyzed to date. In this retrospective observational multicenter cohort study, we evaluated patients treated with TORS using the da Vinci surgical system. Success criteria were defined as identification of the primary tumor for CUP, >2 mm resection margin for malignant conditions, and improvement on respiratory polygraphy and tonsillitis complaints for benign conditions. A total of 220 interventions in 211 patients were included. We identified predictors of success, such as low comorbidity status ACE-27, positive P16 status, and lower age for CUP, and female gender and OSA severity for benign conditions. For other malignancies, no predictors for success were found. Predictors of failure based on postoperative complications included high comorbidity scores (ASA) and anticoagulant use, and for postoperative pain, younger age and female gender were identified. This study provides valuable insights into the outcomes and predictors of success and failure in TORS procedures across various conditions and may also help in patient selection and counseling.

Transoral Robotic Surgery and Radiation Volume Deintensification in Unknown Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Neck

Patients with unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma (CUP) with cervical metastases typically receive comprehensive radiotherapy (RT) of the pharynx and bilateral neck. Typically, these patients receive comprehensive RT of the pharynx and bilateral neck that may produce treatment-related toxic effects. To determine whether localization of occult oropharyngeal cancers with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) combined with reduced pharyngeal and neck RT volumes provides acceptable disease control. This phase 2, single-group nonrandomized controlled trial at a single institution accrued 32 prospective participants with p16-positive CUP without a primary squamous cell carcinoma on examination and imaging from 2017 to 2019, and 24-month follow-up. The data analysis was conducted from January 2021 to June 2022. Diagnostic- (n = 13) or therapeutic-intent (n = 9) TORS, with pharyngeal-sparing radiotherapy (PSRT) prescribed for negative margins or pT0, and unilateral neck RT (UNRT) prescribed for unilateral lymphadenopathy with lateralized primary tumor or pT0. Out-of-radiation treatment volume failure (<15% was hypothesized to be acceptable) and reports of local and regional recurrence, overall survival, toxic effects, swallowing outcomes (per the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory), and videofluoroscopic swallow (per Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxic Effects [DIGEST]) ratings. The study sample comprised 22 patients (mean [SD] age, 59.1 [5.7] years; 3 [14%] females and 19 [86%] male) with CUP. Of these, 19 patients (86%) had tumor stage cN1; 2 (9%), cN2; and 1 (5%), cN3. Five patients (23%), 14 patients (64%), and 3 patients (13%) had 0, 1, or 2 primary tumors, respectively. Twenty patients received RT; of these, 9 patients (45%) underwent PSRT and 10 patients (50%), UNRT. In the diagnostic-intent group, 8 patients (62%) and 5 patients (38%) underwent RT and RT-concurrent chemotherapy, respectively. In the therapeutic-intent group, 6 patients (67%) and 1 patient (11%) received adjuvant RT-concurrent chemotherapy, respectively; 2 patients declined RT. Two-year out-of-radiation treatment volume failure, locoregional control, distant metastasis control, and overall survival were 0%, 100%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 surgical, acute, and late toxic effects occurred in 2 (9%), 5 (23%), and 1 (5%) patients, respectively. PSRT was associated with lower RT dose to superior constrictors (37 vs 53 Gy; mean difference, 16 Gy; 95% CI, 6.4, 24.9), smaller decline in swallowing scores during treatment (19.3 vs 39.7; mean difference, -20.4; 95% CI, -34.1 to -6.1), and fewer patients with worsening DIGEST grade on findings of videofluoroscopic swallow studies at 2 years (0% vs 60%; difference, 60%; 95% CI, 30% to 90%). These findings indicate that TORS for p16-positive CUP allows RT volume deintensification with excellent outcomes and support future investigation in randomized clinical trials. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03281499.

Transoral robotic surgery with free flap reconstruction: Functional outcomes of 241 patients at a single institution.

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal malignancy optimizes oncologic outcomes while preserving functionality. This study identifies patterns of functional recovery after TORS with free flap reconstruction (FFR). Retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care center of patients with primary oropharyngeal tumors treated with TORS with FFR between 2010 and 2022. Patients were categorized into: adjuvant chemoradiation or radiation, or no adjuvant therapy (NAT). Functional outcomes were measured by functional oral intake scale (FOIS). 241 patients were included. FOIS declined at first postoperative appointment (median = 7.0 to 2.0, IQR = [7.0, 7.0], [2.0, 4.0]), and progressively improved to 6.0 (5.0, 6.0) after 1 year, with NAT having the highest FOIS (7.0, p < 0.05). Predictors of poor long-term FOIS included RT and hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) involvement (p < 0.05). TORS with FFR leads to good long-term function with minimal intake restrictions. Radiation therapy and CN XII involvement increase risk of worse functional outcomes.

Transoral Robotic Surgery for Eagle Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is gaining popularity and has been introduced for the treatment of Eagle syndrome. This review aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TORS for the treatment of Eagle syndrome. Methods: A systematic review of the English language literature using multiple databases was completed for studies describing TORS for Eagle syndrome. The quality of studies and risk of bias were evaluated using the MINORS scoring system. Results: Out of 1495 articles screened, 4 studies met criteria for inclusion in the final analysis. Across all studies, there was a 100% surgical success rate. In total, every patient had some level of symptom improvement with 84% of patients having complete symptom improvement and 16% having partial improvement. Reported estimated blood loss averaged 12.5 mL. A total of 94.7% of patients had no surgical complications and no cases were complicated by postoperative bleeding. Operative time averaged 65 minutes. The average length of stay was 2.1 days. A total of 92% of patients resumed their diet on postoperative day 1, with the remainder resuming on postoperative day 2. MINORS criteria scoring suggested moderate risk of bias in all studies. Conclusion: Based on limited quality evidence, this review suggests that TORS is a safe and effective surgical approach in the treatment of Eagle syndrome with low complication rates. Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted.

An academic achievements visualization research since the 21st century: research on salvage surgery for head and neck cancer.

Head and neck cancer is the 6th most common malignancy worldwide, and its incidence is still on the rise. The salvage surgery has been considered as an important treatment strategy for persistent or recurrent head and neck cancer. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of salvage surgery for head and neck cancer since the 21st century. The literature about salvage surgery of head and neck cancer in Web of Science was searched. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to analyze main countries, institutions, authors, journals, subject hotspots, trends, frontiers, etc. A total of 987 papers have been published since the 21st century. These publications were written by 705 authors from 425 institutions in 54 countries. The United States published 311 papers in this field and ranked first. Head & Neck was the most widely published journal. The main keyword clustering included terms such as #0 stereotactic radiotherapy (2012); #1 randomized multicenter (2007); #2 salvage surgery (2004); #3 functional outcomes (2014); #4 transoral robotic surgery (2013); #5 neck high-resolution computed tomography (2010); #6 complications (2008); #7 image guidance (2019). The current research frontiers that have been sustained are "recurrent", "risk factors", and "reirradiation". The current situation of the salvage surgery for head and neck cancer in clinical treatments and basic scientific research were summarized, providing new perspectives for the development of salvage surgery for head and neck cancer in the future.

Preliminary outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy combined with transoral robotic surgery for locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NACI) combined with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in the treatment of locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods: This was a retrospective study of 15 patients with locally advanced OPSCC who underwent TORS after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from April 2019 to February 2023. There were 12 males and 3 females, aged 31 to 74 years. Twelve cases were tonsil cancer, and 3 cases were tongue base cancer. There were 11 cases in stage Ⅲ and 4 cases in stage Ⅳ. Two patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 13 patients received NACI, with 2 to 3 cycles, and all patients underwent TORS after multidisciplinary team consultation. The clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, and oncological results were summarized. Results: All surgeries were successfully completed with negative surgical margins, and no case was required conversion surgery. All patients were fed via nasogastric tubes postoperatively, with a median gastric tube stay of 7 days (range: 2-60 days). No tracheotomy was applied. There were no major complications such as postoperative bleeding. Pathological complete response (pCR) was found in 10 cases (76.9%) among the 13 patients with NACI. The follow-up time was 21 months (range: 10-47 months), and there was no death or distant metastasis. One patient with rT0N3M0 tonsil cancer had local recurrence 5 months after surgery. The 2-year overall survival and 2-year disease-free survival were respectively 100.0% and 93.3% in the 15 patients. Conclusion: NACI combined with TORS provides a safe, effective and minimally invasive treatment for patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Preoperative Circulating Tumor HPV DNA and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Disease

The utility of preoperative circulating tumor tissue-modified viral human papillomavirus DNA (TTMV-HPV DNA) levels in predicting human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ OPSCC) disease burden is unknown. To determine if preoperative circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) is associated with disease burden in patients with HPV+ OPSCC who have undergone transoral robotic surgery (TORS). This cross-sectional study comprised patients with HPV+ OPSCC who underwent primary TORS between September 2021 and April 2023 at one tertiary academic institution. Patients with treatment-naive HPV+ OPSCC (p16-positive) and preoperative ctHPVDNA levels were included, and those who underwent neck mass excision before ctHPVDNA collection were excluded. The main outcome was the association of increasing preoperative ctHPVDNA levels with tumor size and lymph node involvement in surgical pathology. The secondary outcome was the association between preoperative ctHPVDNA levels and adverse pathology, which included lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, or extranodal extension. A total of 70 patients were included in the study (65 men [93%]; mean [SD] age, 61 [8] years). Baseline ctHPVDNA levels ranged from 0 fragments/milliliter of plasma (frag/mL) to 49 452 frag/mL (median [IQR], 272 [30-811] frag/mL). Overall, 58 patients (83%) had positive results for ctHPVDNA, 1 (1.4%) had indeterminate results, and 11 (15.6%) had negative results. The sensitivity of detectable ctHPVDNA for identifying patients with pathology-confirmed HPV+ OPSCC was 84%. Twenty-seven patients (39%) had pathologic tumor (pT) staging of pT0 or pT1, 34 (49%) had pT2 staging, and 9 patients (13%) had pT3 or pT4 staging. No clinically meaningful difference between detectable and undetectable preoperative ctHPVDNA cohorts was found for tumor size or adverse pathology. Although the median preoperative ctHPVDNA appeared to be higher in pT2 through pT4 stages and pN1 or pN2 stages, effect sizes were small (pT stage: η2, 0.002 [95% CI, -1.188 to 0.827]; pN stage: η2, 0.043 [95% CI, -0.188 to 2.600]). Median preoperative log(TTMV-HPV DNA) was higher in active smokers (8.79 [95% CI, 3.55-5.76]), compared with never smokers (5.92 [95% CI, -0.97 to 1.81]) and former smokers (4.99 [95% CI, 0.92-6.23]). Regression analysis did not show an association between tumor dimension or metastatic lymph node deposit size and preoperative log(TTMV-HPV DNA). After univariate analysis, no association was found between higher log(TTMV-HPV DNA) levels and adverse pathology. In this cross-sectional study, preoperative ctHPVDNA levels were not associated with disease burden in patients with HPV+ OPSCC who underwent TORS.

Outcomes of transoral robotic surgery for early-stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with low rates of adjuvant therapy: A consecutive single-institution study from 2013 to 2020

IntroductionThe incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has increased in recent decades, driven by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and neck dissection (ND) has been employed as an alternative to radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy. The current literature is lacking studies providing an exhaustive overview of recurrence characteristics and long-term outcomes in TORS-treated OPSCC-patients. MethodsAll patients treated for OPSCC with primary TORS + ND in Eastern Denmark between 2013 and 2020 were included in the study. The aim was to explore overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), recurrence patterns, and ultimate failure rate (UFR). OS and RFS were examined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional regression analyses were employed to examine effect of different variables on risk of death and recurrence. ResultsThe study included 153 patients of which 88.9 % (n = 136) were treated with TORS alone while 11.1 % (n = 17) received adjuvant therapy. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 97.4 %, 94.1 %, and 87.6 % while 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS were 96.6 %, 87.8 %, and 84.9 %. The UFR was 6.5 % in the cohort. Patients with HPV+/p16 + OPSCC had a significantly better 5-year OS of 92.3 % than patients with discordant or double-negative HPV/p16 status (OS = 73.3 %). No differences in outcomes between patients treated with or without adjuvant therapy were found in regression analysis. ConclusionExcellent survival and disease control was obtained with TORS + ND in this cohort, despite lesser application of adjuvant therapy than other TORS-centers, implying that TORS without adjuvant therapy can be successfully applied in treatment of early-stage OPSCC.

Human papillomavirus circulating tumor DNA: a diagnostic tool in squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary-a pilot study.

Neck mass is the most common presentation of human papillomavirus-related (HPV-related) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Recently, circulating tumor HPV-DNA (ctHPVDNA) assays have been developed to detect active OPSCC. This pilot study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of ctHPVDNA in establishing HPV status for known vs. unknown OPSCC presenting as a neck mass. A single-institution pilot study was conducted on all patients with OPSCC presenting as a neck mass between 2021 and 2022. The diagnostic accuracy of ctHPVDNA was compared to that of standard diagnostic procedures used to obtain HPV status according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guideline for squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (SCCUP). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of ctHPVDNA were calculated. A total of 27 patients were included; 70.4% were current or former smokers, 48.1% (N = 13) had identifiable primaries, and 51.9% (N = 14) had SCCUP. Four patients with known primaries required operative direct laryngoscopy with biopsy (DLB) to establish HPV status. Two patients with SCCUP underwent diagnostic transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to establish HPV status and localize the primary. Twelve patients underwent therapeutic TORS and neck dissection. The gold standard for HPV status was based on final histopathologic p16 or HPV in situ hybridization (ISH) staining during workup/treatment. ctHPVDNA had 95.8% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, and 75% NPV in predicting HPV-positive OPSCC in the whole sample. Binary logistic regression model using ctHPVDNA results to predict HPV-positive OPSCC was significant (-2 log likelihood = 5.55, χ2=8.70, p <.01, Nagelkerke's R squared = .67). Among patients with identifiable primaries, all patients had HPV-positive tumors on final pathology, and ctHPVDNA was positive in 100%. In the unknown primary patients, ctHPVDNA had 90.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, and 75% NPV. ctHPVDNA demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy for both known and unknown primaries. Incorporation of ctHPVDNA into the diagnostic algorithm for SCCUP may reduce the need for multiple procedures to establish HPV status.

Transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: a systematic review on the role of margin status.

Nowadays, robotic surgery finds application in the field of head and neck in the treatment of oropharyngeal tumors. The aim of this work is to examine the efficacy of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in performing safe oncological resections of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), with particular attention to the status of margins. Literature search of English-language studies focused on TORS through PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases. A total of 431 papers returned to search, but only 24 met the inclusion criteria. The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Guidelines. Within the selected studies, the overall rate of OPSCC positive margins following TORS is minimal, especially when patient selection is adequate and when TORS is used by high volume centers. TORS is a very precise and viable therapeutic tool that provides good results in terms of surgical radicality with low positive margin rates and good results in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival; however, there is still a great heterogeneity in margins definition within the available literature. Consequently, even if this surgical approach is very promising, it is still challenging to draw firm conclusions nowadays.

Transoral Robotic-Assisted Neurosurgery for Skull Base and Upper Spine Lesions.

The application of the da Vinci Surgical System in neurosurgery is limited due to technical difficulties requiring precise maneuvers and small instruments. This study details the advantages and disadvantages of robotics in neurosurgery and the reachable range of the transoral approach to lesions of the skull base and upper cervical spine. In a cadaver study, the da Vinci Xi robot, lacking haptic feedback, was utilized for sagittal and coronal approaches on 5 heads, facilitating dura suturing in 3, with a 30°-angled drill for bone removal. Perfect exposure of all the nasopharyngeal sites, clivus, sellar, and choana, including the bilateral eustachian tubes, was achieved without any external incisions using this palatal split approach of transoral robotic surgery. The time required to perform a single stitch, knot, and complete single suture in robotic suturing of deep-seated were significantly less compared to manual suturing via the endonasal approach. This is the first report to show the feasibility of suturing the dural defect in deep-seated lesions transorally and revealed that the limit of reach in the coronal plane via a transoral approach with incision of the soft palate is the foramen ovale. This preclinical investigation also showed that the transoral robotic approach is feasible for lesions extending from the sellar to the C2 in the sagittal plane. Refinement of robotic instruments for specific anatomic sites and future neurosurgical studies are needed to further demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this system in treating benign and malignant skull base lesions.

Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

With oropharyngeal cancer incidence rising globally, largely due to human papillomavirus (HPV), and hypopharyngeal cancer known for poor outcomes, innovative treatments are needed. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) offers a minimally invasive approach that may improve upon traditional open surgery and radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy (RT/CRT) methods. We conducted a literature review and included 40 PubMed studies comparing TORS, open surgery, and RT/CRT for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), focusing on survival rates and swallowing function outcomes. TORS provides favorable survival outcomes and typically results in superior swallowing function post-treatment compared to other therapeutic modalities in both oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal SCCs. The clinical benefits of TORS, including improved operative precision and minimized tissue disruption, along with the elimination of surgical incision recovery and reduced RT toxicity, suggest it is a valuable surgical approach for head and neck cancers.

Salvage transoral robotic surgery in recurrent oropharyngeal carcinoma: a single-center retrospective study.

Salvage surgery is still the best therapeutic option for resectable recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (rOPSCC). Transoral robotic surgery may potentially reduce the morbidity of standard open approaches. The aim of the study is to present oncological and functional outcomes of a monocentric experience in salvage transoral robotic surgery. We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of patients submitted to transoral robotic salvage surgery with or without neck dissection for cT1-3 rOPSCC. We investigated complication rate, survival outcomes (Overall Survival, Disease Specific Survival, Loco-Regional Recurrence Free Survival) and functional outcomes (tracheal tube and/or gastrostomy dependence). Sixty-one patients were included in the analysis. No major complications or perioperative deaths were recorded. The estimated 2-year OS was 76.7%, DSS 81.8% and LRRFS 50.5%. In multivariable analysis rpT, PNI (perineural infiltration) and HPV-positivity were significantly associated with LRRFS (Hazard Ratios: T3 vs T1 6.43, PNI yes vs no 4.19, HPV+ yes vs no 2.63). At last follow up, 97% of patients were tracheal tube-free, while 93% were gastrostomy-free. Transoral robotic salvage surgery is a successful treatment in selected patients affected by rOPSCC because it grants good oncologic and functional outcomes.

Oncological and functional outcomes for transoral robotic surgery following previous radiation treatment for upper aerodigestive tract head and neck cancers. A French multicenter GETTEC group study.

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) opens new perspectives. We evaluated the outcomes for patients having undergone TORS after previous radiotherapy. A retrospective multicenter study (n = 138) in a previously irradiated area between 2009 and 2020. Survival was assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were evaluated using a chi-squared test, Fisher's test, or Wilcoxon's test. The median length of hospital stay was 12.5 days. Bleeding was the most frequent postoperative complication (15.2%, n = 22). Prophylactic vessel ligation did not significantly decrease bleeding. Complications were significantly lower for Tis, T1, and N0 tumors. 91.6% (n = 120) of the patients with a perioperative tracheotomy could be decannulated. Larynx was functional for 65.94% of the patients. The median length of follow-up was 26 months. The 5-year overall and relapse-free survival rates were respectively 59.9% and 43.4%. Oncological and functional results confirmed the value of TORS as a treatment in previously irradiated area.

Prospective development study of the Versius Surgical System for use in transoral robotic surgery: an IDEAL stage 1/2a first in human and initial case series experience

PurposeTransoral robotic surgery is well established in the treatment paradigm of oropharyngeal pathology. The Versius Surgical System (CMR Surgical) is a robotic platform in clinical use in multiple specialities but is currently untested in the head and neck. This study utilises the IDEAL framework of surgical innovation to prospectively evaluate and report a first in human clinical experience and single centre case series of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) with Versius.MethodsFollowing IDEAL framework stages 1 and 2a, the study evaluated Versius to perform first in human TORS before transitioning from benign to malignant cases. Iterative adjustments were made to system setup, instrumentation, and technique, recorded in accordance with IDEAL recommendations. Evaluation criteria included successful procedure completion, setup time, operative time, complications, and subjective impressions. Further evaluation of the system to perform four-arm surgery was conducted.Results30 TORS procedures were successfully completed (15 benign, 15 malignant) without intraoperative complication or conversion to open surgery. Setup time significantly decreased over the study period. Instrumentation challenges were identified, urging the need for TORS-specific instruments. The study introduced four-arm surgery, showcasing Versius’ unique capabilities, although limitations in distal access were observed.ConclusionsTORS is feasible with the Versius Surgical System. The development of TORS-specific instruments would benefit performance and wider adoption of the system. 4-arm surgery is possible however further evaluation is required. Multicentre evaluation (IDEAL stage 2b) is recommended.

Abstract 2574: The effect of epidermal growth factor expression in detecting oropharyngeal tumors during fluorescence-guided robotic surgery

Abstract Intro: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been shown to overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), making it a targetable biomarker for fluorescently labeled monoclonal antibodies such as panitumumab-IRDye800, which can be used during fluorescence-guided trans oral robotic surgery (TORS). Although antibody-based fluorescence-guided surgery is being evaluated in several late-stage trials, the use of intraoperative fluorescence imaging for TORS has not been thoroughly explored. We observed that the bi-polar cautery tool[AHM(1] of the TORS robot was auto-florescent and would appear dimmer in the presence of fluorescence from surgically exposed tumor. We aim to characterize the florescence contrast of the tool and tumor to create a rapid qualitative assessment on tumor presence. Methods: During a phase 2 clinical trial evaluating panitmumab-IRDye800 fluorescence-guided TORS of OPSCC, consenting patients (n=12) with biopsy-confirmed OPSCC received 50mg panitumumab-IRDye800 48 hours prior to surgery. Intraoperative fluorescence images were acquired using the onboard fluorescence camera of the Da Vinci Xi robot and post-operation fluorescence exams were conducted by the Pearl and Odyssey Systems (Li-Cor)[BK2]. For each patient, 3 intraoperative views (pre, mid and late resection) showing pathology-confirmed tumor, normal mucosa, and the tool were taken, and several frames from each view were analyzed via ImageJ to calculate mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in regions of interest. The MFI of tumor and normal muscoa was normalized with MFI of the tool to obtain a standard fluorescence ratio (SFR) per patient[BK3]. A paired t-test was used to compare differences in MFI between the tumor and tool or normal mucosa. Results: The MFI for each time point was graphed for the tool, tumor and normal mucosa. Significant differences were found between tumor and mucosa and tumor and tool for every time point. Tumor/tool SFRs per patient ranged from 2.1 to 60.9, while normal/tool SFRs ranged from 0.4 to 3.1. Receiver operator characteristics curve analyses of tissue-to-tool SFR data showed a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 96% to identify the presence of tumor. Conclusion: The auto-fluorescent properties of the bipolar cautery tool of the Da Vinci Xi robot can be used for qualitative assessments of tumor presence during fluorescence-guided TORS. Bright fluorescence from the tool relative to surrounding tissue suggests the lack of carcinoma presence, which could confirm the surgeon’s complete resection of OPSCC. Citation Format: Logan Stone, Shilpa M. Rao, Manuel Lora Gonzalez, Diana Lin, Hari Jeyarajan, Carissa M. Thomas, Jason Warram. The effect of epidermal growth factor expression in detecting oropharyngeal tumors during fluorescence-guided robotic surgery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2574.

The role of surgery and deescalation for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.

Recently published and ongoing trials are helping to define the role of transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer. Evidence to date supports the use of surgery as a valuable tool in the multidisciplinary deescalation of low-risk human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Biomarker-Driven Radiation Therapy Dose Reduction after Transoral Robotic Surgery for the Treatment of HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer

Biomarker-Driven Radiation Therapy Dose Reduction after Transoral Robotic Surgery for the Treatment of HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer

Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oral Cancer: Evaluating Surgical Outcomes in the Presence of Trismus.

Trismus, defined as restricted mouth opening, is a common complication among Taiwanese oral cancer patients, especially those who chew betel quid. However, the impact of trismus on survival outcomes in oral cancer patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between trismus and surgical outcomes in Taiwanese male oral cancer patients treated with TORS. We conducted a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study of 40 Taiwanese male oral cancer patients who underwent TORS between 2016 and 2022. Overall, 20 patients with trismus were matched to 20 patients without trismus. TORS achieved similar operative and short-term clinical outcomes in trismus patients to non-trismus patients. There were no significant differences between groups in operation time, blood loss, margin status, flap reconstruction rates, duration of nasogastric tube feeding, or length of hospital stay. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between the two groups. The overall survival (OS) rate at three years was significantly lower in patients with trismus than those without trismus (27.1% vs. 95.0%, log-rank p = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS) rates between the trismus and non-trismus groups (36.6% vs. 62.7%, log-rank p = 0.87). After adjusting for confounders, trismus was independently associated with a 13-fold increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR 12.87, 95% CI 1.55-106.50, p < 0.05). In conclusion, trismus appears to be an independent prognostic factor for reduced long-term OS in Taiwanese male oral cancer patients undergoing TORS, though short-term surgical outcomes were non-inferior in the trismus patients. Further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms linking trismus and survival in this population.