Outcomes of postoperative treatment with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in high risk resected oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC): A multi-institutional collaboration

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Background: Adjuvant CRT with high-dose cisplatin remains standard treatment for OCSCC with high risk pathologic features of positive surgical margins (SM+) and/or extranodal extension (ENE). High-dose cisplatin is associated with significant toxicities, and alternative dosing schedules or treatments are used. We evaluated outcomes associated with different systemic therapies concurrent with RT and the effect of cumulative dosing of cisplatin. Methods: An IRB-approved collaborative database of patients (pts) with primary OCSCC (Stage I-IVB AJCC 7th edition) treated with primary surgical resection between 1/1/2005 and 1/1/2015 with or without adjuvant therapy was established from 6 academic institutions. Pts were categorized by systemic therapy received, and resultant groups compared for demographic data, pathologic features, and outcomes by t-test and Chi-squared tests. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank p-values, and multivariate analysis (MVA) for disease free survival (DFS) and freedom from metastatic disease (DM). Results: From a total sample size of 1282 pts, 196 pts were identified with high risk features (SM+, ENE) who were treated with adjuvant CRT. Median age was 56 years, 63.3% of pts were men, 81.1% were Caucasian, 70.9% had significant tobacco history. 35.7% of pts had SM+, 82.7% ENE, 65.3% with perineural invasion (PNI), 49% had lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). There was a trend associating higher cisplatin dose delivered with improved locoregional control, DM, and overall survival (OS) (p-values 0.131, 0.084, and 0.187, respectively). DFS was significantly better with higher cisplatin dose (HR = 0.95 per 100 mg/m2 increase in cisplatin). Administration schedule of cisplatin (weekly versus high-dose) was not significantly associated with DFS. On MVA, PNI and higher cisplatin dose remained statistically significant for DFS (p < 0.001 and 0.007). Median OS by cisplatin dose was 10.5 ( < 200 mg/m2) vs. 20.8 months ( > / = 200 mg/m2). Conclusions: This multi-institutional analysis demonstrated cumulative cisplatin dose > / = 200 mg/m2 was associated with improved DFS in high risk resected OCSCC pts. It remains unclear by this analysis if cisplatin administration schedule has any prognostic implication. Further study is warranted to elucidate the optimal cisplatin schedule for this population.

Immune-Checkpoint Blockade Opposes CD8+ T-cell Suppression in Human and Murine Cancer

Immune-checkpoint blockade enhances antitumor responses against cancers. One cancer type that is sensitive to checkpoint blockade is squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), which we use here to study limitations of this treatment modality. We observed that CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in SCCHN and melanoma express excess immune checkpoints components PD-1 and Tim-3 and are also CD27^-/CD28^-, a phenotype we previously associated with immune dysfunction and suppression. In ex vivo experiments, patients' CD8⁺ TILs with this phenotype suppressed proliferation of autologous peripheral blood T cells. Similar phenotype and function of TILs was observed in the TC-1 mouse tumor model. Treatment of TC-1 tumors with anti-PD-1 or anti-Tim-3 slowed tumor growth in vivo and reversed the suppressive function of multi-checkpoint⁺ CD8⁺ TIL. Similarly, treatment of both human and mouse PD-1⁺ Tim-3⁺ CD8⁺ TILs with anticheckpoint antibodies ex vivo reversed their suppressive function. These suppressive CD8⁺ TILs from mice and humans expressed ligands for PD-1 and Tim-3 and exerted their suppressive function via IL10 and close contact. To model therapeutic strategies, we combined anti-PD-1 blockade with IL7 cytokine therapy or with transfer of antigen-specific T cells. Both strategies resulted in synergistic antitumor effects and reduced suppressor cell function. These findings enhance our understanding of checkpoint blockade in cancer treatment and identify strategies to promote synergistic activities in the context of other immunotherapies.

American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Section clinical consensus statement: North American quality statements and evidence-based multidisciplinary workflow algorithms for the evaluation and management of thyroid nodules

BACKGROUND

Care for patients with thyroid nodules is complex and multidisciplinary, and research demonstrates variation in care. The objective was to develop clinical guidelines and quality metrics to reduce unwarranted variation and improve quality.

METHODS

Multidisciplinary expert consensus and modified Delphi approach. Source documents were workflow algorithms from Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Cancer Care of Ontario based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association management guidelines for adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer.

RESULTS

A consensus-based, unified preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative workflow was developed for North American use. Twenty-one panelists achieved consensus on 16 statements about workflow-embedded process and outcomes metrics addressing safety, access, appropriateness, efficiency, effectiveness, and patient centeredness of care.

CONCLUSION

A panel of Canadian and United States experts achieved consensus on workflows and quality metric statements to help reduce unwarranted variation in care, improving overall quality of care for patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules.

Anterior laryngeal electrodes for recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thyroid and parathyroid surgery: New expanded options for neural monitoring

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Intraoperative neural monitoring is a useful adjunct for the laryngeal nerve function assessment during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Typically, monitoring is performed by measurement of electromyographic responses recorded by endotracheal tube (ETT) surface electrodes. Tube position alterations during surgery can cause displacement of the electrodes relative to the vocal cords, leading to false positive loss of signal. Numerous reports have denoted monitoring equipment-related issues, especially endotracheal tube displacement, as the dominant source of false positive error. The false positive error may result in inappropriate decisions by the surgeon. This study tests the hypothesis that anterior laryngeal electrodes (ALEs) can help reduce this error. Placement of ALEs directly onto the thyroid cartilage represent an adjunctive and possible alternative method to standard ETT surface electrodes.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review.

METHODS

Fifteen consecutive patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery with intraoperative neuromonitoring using both ETT electrodes and ALEs were studied. Data collected included site of neural stimulation, laterality, and electromyographic parameters.

RESULTS

With vagal and recurrent laryngeal nerve stimulation, the ALEs recorded mean vocalis muscle waveform amplitude within 83% of that recorded with standard ETT electrodes. The latency measurements with the anterior laryngeal and endotracheal electrodes were similar, with both electrodes recording significantly longer latency for the left vagus nerve as compared to the right vagus nerve. With superior laryngeal nerve stimulation, the ALEs recorded a 800% greater mean amplitude than the ETT electrodes. The ALEs demonstrated similar sensitivity to stimulation at low current as ETT electrodes and provided stable intraoperative monitoring information.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to ETT surface electrodes, the ALEs provide similar and stable electromyographic responses with equal sensitivity for recording evoked responses during neural monitoring in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. The ALEs offer significantly more robust monitoring of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. Furthermore, ALEs are contained within the operative field, are totally surgeon controlled, and are unaffected by the potential vicissitudes of ETT position during surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 128:2910-2915, 2018.

Suboptimal Outcomes in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck with Nodal Metastases

BACKGROUND/AIM

There are limited data regarding survival, failure patterns, and factors associated with disease recurrence in patients with cutaneous squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (cSCC-HN) with nodal metastases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients with cSCC-HN metastatic to cervical and/or parotid lymph nodes treated with surgery and post-operative radiation therapy was performed.

RESULTS

This study included 76 patients (57 immunocompetent and 18 immunosuppressed) with a median follow-up of 18 months. Overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and disease recurrence (DR) at 2 years was 60%, 49%, and 40%, respectively. Immunosuppressed patients had significantly lower 2-year DFS (28% vs. 55%; p=0.003) and higher DR (61% vs. 34%; p=0.04) compared to immunocompetent patients. Analysis of immunocompetent patients demonstrated extracapsular extension (ECE) as the only factor associated with DR (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with nodal metastases from cSCC-HN have suboptimal outcomes. ECE and immunosuppression were significantly associated with DR.

International neuromonitoring study group guidelines 2018: Part II: Optimal recurrent laryngeal nerve management for invasive thyroid cancer-incorporation of surgical, laryngeal, and neural electrophysiologic data

The purpose of this publication was to inform surgeons as to the modern state-of-the-art evidence-based guidelines for management of the recurrent laryngeal nerve invaded by malignancy through blending the domains of 1) surgical intraoperative information, 2) preoperative glottic function, and 3) intraoperative real-time electrophysiologic information. These guidelines generated by the International Neural Monitoring Study Group (INMSG) are envisioned to assist the clinical decision-making process involved in recurrent laryngeal nerve management during thyroid surgery by incorporating the important information domains of not only gross surgical findings but also intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve functional status and preoperative laryngoscopy findings. These guidelines are presented mainly through algorithmic workflow diagrams for convenience and the ease of application. These guidelines are published in conjunction with the INMSG Guidelines Part I: Staging Bilateral Thyroid Surgery With Monitoring Loss of Signal. Level of Evidence: 5 Laryngoscope, 128:S18-S27, 2018.

Abstract 3681: A biologic basis for locoregional failure in patients with oral cavity cancers

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment for patients with oral cavity cancer (OCC) with intermediate risk pathologic variables after surgery is adjuvant radiotherapy. Despite this, one-third of patients experience locoregional failure (LRF). Clinicopathologic prognostic models have not been able to identify subsets of patients at higher risk of failure in whom treatment intensification with the addition of systemic chemotherapy should be considered. We posited that gene expression-derived tumor taxonomies can predict treatment failures and therefore guide more nuanced clinical decision making. Herein, we report on a score model based on OCC gene expression characteristics that can be incorporated into risk stratification and treatment decisions.

METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from patients with intermediate risk OCC treated with surgery followed by radiation alone were subjected to quantitative nuclease protection and next-generation sequencing to measure gene expression (HTG Molecular EdgeSeq™). A subset of samples that had corresponding frozen tumor samples were profiled by RNAseq to validate the FFPE results. Patients were divided into two groups based on LRF. Differentially expressed genes were identified using the R limma package. 98 genes were selected on the basis of unadjusted P values and predicted biological impact, as measured by gene set enrichment results (GSEA) and resultant biological pathway scores. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC dataset (n=521) was used to validate the prognostic performance of our gene set.

RESULTS: Of the 78 patients included in the study, 35% of patients had LRF. GSEA of the 98 genes demonstrated a role for DNA repair, oxidative phosphorylation, hypoxia and p53 pathways, indicating radiobiologic plausibility for a significant subset of the genes that constitute the score. The mean composite score was 0.42 for patients with LRF, and -0.19 for patients without LRF (P = 0.0002). The Kaplan-Meier estimates of progression free survival at 3 years for the 1st (high risk) and 4th quartile (low risk) groups were 0.65 (0.47 to 0.89; 95% CI) and 0.93 (0.82 to 1; 95% CI), respectively. On multivariate analysis, the composite score was the strongest predictor of LRF (P = 0.0073). Composite scores also strongly predicted for overall survival in the TCGA HNSCC dataset (P &lt; 0.01) and the Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival at 2 years for the 1st and 4th quartile groups were 0.55 (0.45 to 0.68; 95% CI) and 0.73 (0.63 to 1; 84% CI), respectively. Composite scores performed the best in patients with OCC (P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS: We developed a gene signature that predicts LRF in patients with intermediate risk OCC treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. Further validation on larger datasets are needed. This biomarker can potentially identify higher risk patients who should be considered for intensification strategies with the addition of systemic therapy.

Citation Format: Elif I. Sarihan, Brian B. Burkey, Joseph Scharpf, Robert Lorenz, Eric D. Lamarre, Brandon Prendes, Jessica L. Geiger, David J. Adelstein, Shlomo A. Koyfman, Mohamed E. Abazeed. A biologic basis for locoregional failure in patients with oral cavity cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3681.

Definitive Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx: Long-term Outcomes and Toxicity

BACKGROUND/AIM

Definitive chemoradiation (CRT) is a common approach for locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with the goal of organ preservation. Reports on long-term oncologic and functional outcomes have been limited. This study reports on outcomes utilizing this approach at a single institution over 30 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records for patients with stage III-IVB SCC of the hypopharynx were retrospectively reviewed. Patient and disease-related factors were identified and analyzed for impact on overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), disease-free survival, distant failure, and locoregional failure.

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients were identified who were treated with definitive CRT to a mean dose of 72 Gy. With a median follow-up period of 49.8 months, 5- and 10-year OS was 62% and 43% respectively. Five and 10-year CSS were 74% and 72% respectively. Ten-year local control was 78%. Of the 37 patients with no treatment failure, 29% experienced a grade 3 or higher late toxicity, with the majority resolving during continued long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates good outcomes with long-term follow-up with acceptable rates of late toxicities. The findings here represent the longest published median follow-up in this population and validate the strategy of organ preservation.

A matched comparison of human papillomavirus-induced squamous cancer of unknown primary with early oropharynx cancer

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cancer of unknown primary (CUP) are generally excluded from clinical trials, despite surgical series reporting detection rates of occult oropharynx primaries of >80%. We performed a matched-pair analysis to compare outcomes between T0N1-3M0 HPV+ CUP and T1-2N1-3M0 HPV+ oropharynx known primary (OPX).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study at a single institution.

METHODS

Patients with early T stage, node positive HPV+ OPX or CUP treated with curative intent between 1998 and 2016 were identified. For a subgroup of CUP patients with an unknown HPV status, we imputed HPV status and included patients with a >80% probability of being HPV+. Cohorts were matched based on patient demographics using a nearest neighbor propensity technique. After matching, patients were grouped according to either a favorable or unfavorable risk stratification designations per current NRG Oncology clinical trial enrollment criteria. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Of 298 patients with T1-2N1-3 OPX, 48 were matched to 48 HPV+ CUP patients (32 with confirmed and 16 imputed HPV status). Median follow-up for CUP (34.1 months) and OPX (27.8 months) patients were similar (P = .23).There were no significant differences between the CUP and OPX groups for 3-year DFS (89% vs. 85%, P = .44), and 3-year OS (91% vs. 91%, P = .11), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T0N+M0 HPV-induced CUP have similar survival outcomes to matched patients with T1-2N+M0 HPV+ OPX. These patients can reasonably be included in clinical trials investigating the role of treatment deintensification and risk stratified similar to patients with early-stage known primary OPX cancer.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4. Laryngoscope, 128:1379-1385, 2018.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults Executive Summary

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has published a supplement to this issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery featuring the "Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults." To assist in implementing the guideline recommendations, this article summarizes the rationale, purpose, and key action statements. The 12 recommendations developed emphasize reducing delays in diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; promoting appropriate testing, including imaging, pathologic evaluation, and empiric medical therapies; reducing inappropriate testing; and promoting appropriate physical examination when cancer is suspected.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults

Objective Neck masses are common in adults, but often the underlying etiology is not easily identifiable. While infections cause most of the neck masses in children, most persistent neck masses in adults are neoplasms. Malignant neoplasms far exceed any other etiology of adult neck mass. Importantly, an asymptomatic neck mass may be the initial or only clinically apparent manifestation of head and neck cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), lymphoma, thyroid, or salivary gland cancer. Evidence suggests that a neck mass in the adult patient should be considered malignant until proven otherwise. Timely diagnosis of a neck mass due to metastatic HNSCC is paramount because delayed diagnosis directly affects tumor stage and worsens prognosis. Unfortunately, despite substantial advances in testing modalities over the last few decades, diagnostic delays are common. Currently, there is only 1 evidence-based clinical practice guideline to assist clinicians in evaluating an adult with a neck mass. Additionally, much of the available information is fragmented, disorganized, or focused on specific etiologies. In addition, although there is literature related to the diagnostic accuracy of individual tests, there is little guidance about rational sequencing of tests in the course of clinical care. This guideline strives to bring a coherent, evidence-based, multidisciplinary perspective to the evaluation of the neck mass with the intention to facilitate prompt diagnosis and enhance patient outcomes. Purpose The primary purpose of this guideline is to promote the efficient, effective, and accurate diagnostic workup of neck masses to ensure that adults with potentially malignant disease receive prompt diagnosis and intervention to optimize outcomes. Specific goals include reducing delays in diagnosis of HNSCC; promoting appropriate testing, including imaging, pathologic evaluation, and empiric medical therapies; reducing inappropriate testing; and promoting appropriate physical examination when cancer is suspected. The target patient for this guideline is anyone ≥18 years old with a neck mass. The target clinician for this guideline is anyone who may be the first clinician whom a patient with a neck mass encounters. This includes clinicians in primary care, dentistry, and emergency medicine, as well as pathologists and radiologists who have a role in diagnosing neck masses. This guideline does not apply to children. This guideline addresses the initial broad differential diagnosis of a neck mass in an adult. However, the intention is only to assist the clinician with a basic understanding of the broad array of possible entities. The intention is not to direct management of a neck mass known to originate from thyroid, salivary gland, mandibular, or dental pathology as management recommendations for these etiologies already exist. This guideline also does not address the subsequent management of specific pathologic entities, as treatment recommendations for benign and malignant neck masses can be found elsewhere. Instead, this guideline is restricted to addressing the appropriate work-up of an adult patient with a neck mass that may be malignant in order to expedite diagnosis and referral to a head and neck cancer specialist. The Guideline Development Group sought to craft a set of actionable statements relevant to diagnostic decisions made by a clinician in the workup of an adult patient with a neck mass. Furthermore, where possible, the Guideline Development Group incorporated evidence to promote high-quality and cost-effective care. Action Statements The development group made a strong recommendation that clinicians should order a neck computed tomography (or magnetic resonance imaging) with contrast for patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy. The development group made the following recommendations: (1) Clinicians should identify patients with a neck mass who are at increased risk for malignancy because the patient lacks a history of infectious etiology and the mass has been present for ≥2 weeks without significant fluctuation or the mass is of uncertain duration. (2) Clinicians should identify patients with a neck mass who are at increased risk for malignancy based on ≥1 of these physical examination characteristics: fixation to adjacent tissues, firm consistency, size >1.5 cm, or ulceration of overlying skin. (3) Clinicians should conduct an initial history and physical examination for patients with a neck mass to identify those with other suspicious findings that represent an increased risk for malignancy. (4) For patients with a neck mass who are not at increased risk for malignancy, clinicians or their designees should advise patients of criteria that would trigger the need for additional evaluation. Clinicians or their designees should also document a plan for follow-up to assess resolution or final diagnosis. (5) For patients with a neck mass who are deemed at increased risk for malignancy, clinicians or their designees should explain to the patient the significance of being at increased risk and explain any recommended diagnostic tests. (6) Clinicians should perform, or refer the patient to a clinician who can perform, a targeted physical examination (including visualizing the mucosa of the larynx, base of tongue, and pharynx) for patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy. (7) Clinicians should perform fine-needle aspiration (FNA) instead of open biopsy, or refer the patient to someone who can perform FNA, for patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy when the diagnosis of the neck mass remains uncertain. (8) For patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy, clinicians should continue evaluation of patients with a cystic neck mass, as determined by FNA or imaging studies, until a diagnosis is obtained and should not assume that the mass is benign. (9) Clinicians should obtain additional ancillary tests based on the patient's history and physical examination when a patient with a neck mass is deemed at increased risk for malignancy who does not have a diagnosis after FNA and imaging. (10) Clinicians should recommend evaluation of the upper aerodigestive tract under anesthesia, before open biopsy, for patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy and without a diagnosis or primary site identified with FNA, imaging, and/or ancillary tests. The development group recommended against clinicians routinely prescribing antibiotic therapy for patients with a neck mass unless there are signs and symptoms of bacterial infection.

PROGNOSTIC VARIABLES AFFECTING PRIMARY TREATMENT OUTCOME FOR MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER

OBJECTIVE

Identifying prognostic risk factors and determining the efficacy of common surgical treatments is critical to determine optimal treatment strategies for patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The objective of this study was to review a contemporary institutional experience with MTC primary treatment with 2 goals: to identify prognostic factors that impact survival and to study the effect of neck dissection on those outcomes.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective case series of patients with MTC who underwent at least a total thyroidectomy with curative intent. Clinical parameters including tumor and nodal staging with corresponding pathology findings were identified. Survival endpoints included overall survival, disease-free survival, and biochemical cure.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients were included. The majority presented with early T-stage disease. Fifty (76%) patients were N0 at presentation. Seventeen (24%) had some evidence of neck disease on clinical examination or imaging. Forty (71%) achieved biochemical cure, and the 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival for those cases was 86.5%. Among patients who had successful resection of all gross disease, 92% had no evidence of structural disease at 5 years. Overall survival was 91% at 5 years. Increased pre-operative calcitonin (Ct) level, primary tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and neck metastases decrease the rate of biochemical cure. Larger tumor size increases the risk of structural disease recurrence and biochemical relapse after initial cure. The presence and number of neck metastases correlate with biochemical relapse. The presence of lateral neck nodes (pN1b) does not have different survival implications than centrally confined disease (pN1a).

CONCLUSION

This study shows increasing tumor size, increased Ct level, and cervical metastases are poor prognostic factors. Patients with large tumors, high Ct level, or unfavorable pathologic findings may warrant more aggressive initial treatment, although limitations of the study prevent any conclusion regarding the effect of neck dissection.

ABBREVIATIONS

ATA = American Thyroid Association BRFS = biochemical recurrence-free survival CND = central neck dissection Ct = calcitonin DFS = disease-free survival MTC = medullary thyroid carcinoma OR = odds ratio OS = overall survival pCND = prophylactic CND.

The Challenge of Guideline Development When Evidence Is Sparse

Although best-practice standards for clinical guidelines have been released by the Institute of Medicine and Guidelines International Network, a great challenge remains for guideline development for patients afflicted with rare diseases. This article reviews the challenge of guideline development under these circumstances with an emphasis on strategies to overcome these challenges. Guideline development and use in practice have become integral components in the contemporary care of patients to optimize outcome results. The guidelines are developed through an objective, evidence-based process conducted by experts and stakeholders for a given disease process.

Prognostic factors associated with benefit to post-operative chemotherapy: A National Cancer Data Base analysis

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Background: Addition of chemotherapy to adjuvant radiation (RT) confers an OS benefit and is recommended in HNSCC patients with nodal extracapsular extension (ECE) and positive surgical margins based on pooled data. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate a larger patient data set in an attempt to confirm this observation and to assess current patterns of practice. Methods: The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was queried to identify patients with HNSCC who were treated with primary definitive surgery followed by adjuvant RT between 2004 and 2012. For patients treated with surgery and post-operative RT with or without chemotherapy, the effect of the systemic therapy on OS was explored using multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling and stratified by patient and disease factors. Results: 6,351 patients were identified meeting study criteria; 3157 patients (49.7%) received adjuvant RT alone, and 3194 patients (50.3%) received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). An increase in chemotherapy usage was observed over time (6% of patients in 2004; 16% in 2012). No difference was seen in OS by use of CRT (median OS 8.3 years in patients without CRT vs. 9.4 years in patients with CRT, p = 0.0893). On multivariate analysis OS was improved in younger patients, patients with less co-morbidity, oropharynx, lower T and lower N. OS was also improved in patients given chemotherapy if either ECE or positive surgical margins were present (HR 1.166, p = 0.0438) but not in those with negative surgical margins and no ECE (HR 1.037, p = 0.5888). Nonetheless, chemotherapy was given to 38% of post-operative patients without these risk factors and not given to 35% of patients with risk factors. Conclusions: This NCDB analysis confirms an OS benefit with addition of chemotherapy to post-operative RT in HNSCC patients with ECE or positive surgical margins but not in patients without these risk factors, consistent with current guidelines. National practice patterns, however, do not mirror these recommendations. These results are subject to limitations of retrospective analysis of a large database and further studies are needed to better elucidate high risk factors benefiting from intensifying adjuvant therapy.

Comprehensive management of recurrent thyroid cancer: An American Head and Neck Society consensus statement: AHNS consensus statement

This American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) consensus statement focuses on the detection and management of recurrent thyroid cancer. This document describes the radiologic approach to defining structural recurrent disease and the operative and nonoperative rationale in addressing identified structural disease to create equipoise in the personalized treatment strategy for the patient. The recommendations of this AHNS multidisciplinary consensus panel of the American Head and Neck Society are intended to help guide all multidisciplinary clinicians who diagnose or manage adult patients with thyroid cancer. The consensus panel is comprised of members of the American Head and Neck Society and its Endocrine Surgical Committee, and there is representation from medical endocrinology and both national and international surgical representation drawn from general/endocrine surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery. Authors provided expertise for their respective sections, and consensus recommendations were made regarding the evaluation and treatment of recurrent thyroid cancer. Evidence-based literature support is drawn from thyroid cancer studies, recurrent thyroid cancer studies, and American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines. The manuscript was then distributed to members of the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Committee and governing counsel for further feedback. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1862-1869, 2016.