Predicting Adverse Histopathology and Need for Postsurgical Adjuvant Therapy for Human Papilloma Virus–Associated Oropharynx Carcinoma

Edgar Ochoa, Gaelen Stanford-Moore, Carole Fakhry, William R. Ryan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: For human papillomavirus–associated oropharynx carcinoma treated with definitive surgery, we aimed to find predictors of adverse histopathology indicating the possible need for adjuvant therapy. Study Design: Retrospective review. Setting: National Cancer Database. Methods: We analyzed 2347 eligible patients from 2010 to 2015. We evaluated (1) the ability of clinical nodal staging and extranodal extension designation per the AJCC, seventh edition (American Joint Committee on Cancer), to predict histopathology and (2) the likelihoods for adverse postsurgery histopathology by common clinical stages. Results: Clinical nodal staging predicted pathologic nodal staging 65% of the time, with 24% (569/2347) being upstaged and 11% (251/2347) being downstaged. In patients with cN+ disease, clinical extranodal extension distinction had the following accuracy for pathologic extranodal extension: positive predictive value, 81% (88/109); negative predictive value, 73.1% (505/691); sensitivity, 32.1% (88/274); and specificity, 96.0% (505/526). Patients with cT1-2, N0-N2c, without clinical extranodal extension had the following proportions of pN2+ without pathologic extranodal extension (indicating consideration for adjuvant radiation): cN0, 11%; cN1, 31%; cN2a, 67% (8% downstaged); cN2b, 66% (6% downstaged); and cN2c, 35% (17% downstaged). From this group, patients had the following proportions of pathologic extranodal extension (indicating consideration for adjuvant chemoradiation): cN0, 6%; cN1, 20%; cN2a, 27%; cN2b, 28%; and cN2c, 48%. Conclusion: For human papillomavirus–associated oropharynx carcinoma, nodal clinical staging per the American Joint Committee on Cancer, seventh edition, predicts pathologic stage about two-thirds of the time, leading to up- and downstaging. Clinical extranodal extension assessment has low sensitivity and moderate predictive capability. With careful selection, definitive surgery can allow patients to often avoid adjuvant chemotherapy and sometimes avoid adjuvant radiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)309-316
Number of pages8
JournalOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States)
Volume165
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • adjuvant chemotherapy
  • adjuvant radiation
  • clinical staging
  • extranodal extension
  • human papilloma virus
  • oropharyngeal carcinoma
  • oropharynx cancer
  • pathologic staging
  • transoral robotic surgery
  • treatment guidelines

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Otorhinolaryngology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Predicting Adverse Histopathology and Need for Postsurgical Adjuvant Therapy for Human Papilloma Virus–Associated Oropharynx Carcinoma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this