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Unique Patterns of Distant Metastases in HPV-Positive Head and Neck Cancer ONCOLOGY Sacks, R., Law, J. Y., Zhu, H., Beg, M. S., Gerber, D. E., Sumer, B. D., Myers, L. L., Truelson, J. M., Nedzi, L., Sher, D., Hughes, R. S., Khan, S. A. 2020; 98 (3): 179-185

Abstract

HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ HNSCC) demonstrates favorable outcomes compared to HPV-negative SCC, but distant metastases (DM) still occur. The pattern of DM in HPV+ HNSCC is unclear.1,494 HNSCC patients were treated from 2006 to 2012. Recurrence time and metastatic sites in HPV+ HNSCC (Group 1) were compared to patients with HPV-negative/unknown cancers arising in the hypopharynx, larynx, or glottis (Group 2) as well as to patients with HPV-negative/unknown cancers in theoral cavity, oropharynx, hard palate, or tonsil (Group 3).7/109 (6.4%) patients with HPV+ HNSCC developed DM. The median time to metastases was 11 months. At a median follow-up of 18-25 months, there was no difference in the overall rate of DM for the HPV+ HNSCC group compared to Group 2 (HPV-/unknown) (p = 0.21) and Group 3 (HPV-/unknown) (p = 0.13). There was a significant difference in the rate of DM to the lung in the HPV+ HNSCC group compared to Group 2 (HPV-/unknown) (p = 0.012) and Group 3 (HPV-/unknown) (p = 0.002).There was no observed difference in the time to development of DM between the HPV-/unknown and HPV+ HNSCC groups. However, the HPV+ HNSCC group showed a higher rate of DM to the lung compared to the HPV-/unknown -HNSCC group (p = 0.002).

View details for DOI 10.1159/000504651

View details for Web of Science ID 000519117200008

View details for PubMedID 31846962