ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (SCCO) provides good results for locoregional disease control, with high rates of complete clinical and pathologic responses, mainly in the neck.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether complete pathologic response after chemoradiotherapy is related to the prognosis of patients with SCCO.
METHODS:
Data were prospectively extracted from clinical records of N2 and N3 SCCO patients submitted to a planned neck dissection after chemoradiotherapy.
RESULTS:
A total of 19 patients were evaluated. Half of patients obtained complete pathologic response in the neck. Distant or locoregional recurrence occurred in approximately 42% of patients, and 26% died. Statistical analysis showed an association between complete pathologic response and lower disease recurrence rate (77.8% vs. 20.8%; p = 0.017) and greater overall survival (88.9% vs. 23.3%;p = 0.049).
CONCLUSION:
The presence of a complete pathologic response after chemoradiotherapy positively influences the prognosis of patients with SCCO.
Keywords:
Oropharynx; Carcinoma; Squamous cell; Combined chemotherapy; Neck dissection