Phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and transoral endoscopic surgery with risk-adapted adjuvant therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Jared M. Weiss, Juneko E. Grilley-Olson, Allison Mary Deal, Jose P. Zevallos, Bhishamjit S. Chera, Jennifer Paul, Mary Fleming Knowles, Dmitriy Usenko, Mark C. Weissler, Samip Patel, David N. Hayes, Trevor Hackman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of induction chemotherapy, surgery, and pathology-guided adjuvant therapy to treat transorally resectable squamous head and neck cancer. METHODS: Patients had squamous head and neck cancer that was resectable by the transoral route and advanced-stage disease (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III-IV, T3-T4 tumors, and/or positive lymph nodes). They received treatment with weekly carboplatin at an area under the curve of 2, plus paclitaxel 135 mg/m2, and daily lapatinib 1000mg for 6 weeks followed by surgical resection. Pathology that revealed margins <5 mm, extracapsular extension, N2a of N2b lymph node status, perineural invasion, or lymphovascular space invasion resulted in adjuvant radiotherapy concurrent with weekly cisplatin. Pathology with N2c/N3 lymph node status or positive margins resulted in radiation with bolus cisplatin. The primary endpoint was the clinical response rate to induction chemotherapy, and a key secondary endpoint was feasibility. RESULTS: Toxicity was modest, and 37 of 40 patients completed study procedures as planned. The clinical response rate was 93%, the pathologic complete response rate was 36%, and the clinical response did not predict for a pathologic complete response. No patient on study follow-up has recurred or died. Twenty-nine of 39 patients who underwent surgery avoided radiation. Speech and swallowing function were well preserved. CONCLUSIONS: The study met both its primary efficacy endpoint and the secondary feasibility endpoint. Neoadjuvant, systemic therapy and surgical resection followed by risk-adapted adjuvant therapy resulted in high response rates and excellent long-term outcomes and should be further studied. Cancer 2018;124:2986-92.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2986-2992
Number of pages7
JournalCancer
Volume124
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 15 2018

Keywords

  • induction chemotherapy
  • lapatinib
  • neoadjuvant
  • squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
  • transoral surgery

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