Predictive Factors for the Histologic Response to Preoperative Radiotherapy in Advanced Oral Cancer

Predictive Factors for the Histologic Response to Preoperative Radiotherapy in Advanced Oral Cancer
January 2006
Kojiro Onizawa, DDS, PhD⁎, Hiroshi Yoshida, DDS, PhD‹, Kiyoshi Ohara, MD·, Masayuki Noguchi, MD?
Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Purpose
Preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are important in treating advanced oral cancer. We attempted to elucidate predictive factors for the histologic response to preoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Patients and Methods
Forty-three patients with locally advanced cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx were treated preoperatively with radiotherapy (50 Gy); surgery included modification of the resected area to preserve organ function.

Results
Hemoglobin level and histologic differentiation were independent factors significantly associated with the histologic response by multivariate analysis. Locoregional failure occurred only in patients with poor histologic response, and there was a significant difference in the 5-year survival rate between patients with good and poor responses (84% vs 32%). Multivariate analysis indicated that the histologic response at the primary site and the number of metastatic lymph nodes were prognostic factors.

Conclusion
We identified predictive factors for a good response to preoperative therapy and found a high survival rate in patients with a good response.

⁎ Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

‹ Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

· Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

? Professor, Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Onizawa: 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan

PII: S0278-2391(05)01529-6

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2005.09.006

© 2006 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

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