Clinical analysis of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue along with the transition of neoadjuvant therapy

Abstract

We reviewed patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue （LASCCT） treated by standard treatment modalities including irradiation followed by surgery （① RT ＋ surgery group）, surgery with-out neoadjuvant therapy （② surgery group）, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery （③ NAC ＋ surgery group）. No significant differences in 5-year locoregional control （LRC）, disease-free survival （DFS）, or overall survival （OS） rates were shown among the three groups. Furthermore, subgroup analysis by T, N, and clinical stage showed no significant differences of LRC, DFS, or OS among the three groups. The NAC ＋ surgery group tended to have much locoregional recurrence compared to the other groups, although no significant difference of rates of locoregional or distant recurrence was shown among the three groups. Furthermore, the NAC ＋ surgery group, including a higher proportion of advanced T or N stage, tended to have a lower proportion of distant recurrence and a favorable OS compared to the other groups. However, overall survival of the NAC ＋ surgery group was better even though the group included advanced T and N cases. There were some limita-tions of this study; further analysis is required for neoadjuvant therapy.