Abstract:

Objective To compare the survival rate and adverse reactions of patients with advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy, and to analyze the prognostic factors of patients. Methods The clinicopathologic data of 78 patients with advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma admitted to the Department of Radiation Oncology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from August 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group (n=27) and chemoradiotherapy group (n=51) according to different treatment methods. The median follow-up time was 46 months (20-84 months). The main observation indicators were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and local control rate (LCR). Cox regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors. Results Until July 31, 2020, 51 of the 78 patients with advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma died, including 6 cases of local recurrence, 11 cases of distant metastasis, and 34 cases of other causes (15 cases of hemorrhage, 15 cases of cachexia, and 4 cases of other diseases). In the surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group, 12 patients died, accounting for 44.44%. In the chemoradiotherapy group, 39 patients died, accounting for 76.47%. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates of 78 patients were 57.7%, 36.3% and 27.2% respectively, the 1-, 2- and 3-year PFS rates were 49.5%, 38.7% and 32.6% respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year LCR were 53.4%, 40.0% and 34.2% respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates in the surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group were 74.1%, 50.1% and 44.6%, and those in the chemoradiotherapy group were 49.0%, 29.3% and 12.8%, with a statistically significant difference (χ²=5.142, P=0.023). The 1-, 2- and 3-year PFS rates in the surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group were 62.1%, 54.3% and 44.4%, and those in the chemoradiotherapy group were 43.1%, 30.6% and 26.7%, with no statistically significant difference (χ²=3.222, P=0.073). The 1-, 2- and 3-year LCR of the surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group were 69.8%, 54.3% and 44.4%, and those in the chemoradiotherapy group were 45.1%, 32.9% and 29.6%, with no statistically significant difference (χ²=3.576, P=0.059). The results of univariate analysis showed that tumor T stage (χ²=7.140, P=0.008), N stage (χ²=4.493, P=0.034) and treatment method (χ²=5.142, P=0.023) were all independent influencing factors of the OS of patient with advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; T stage (χ²=5.807, P=0.016) and N stage (χ²=6.587, P=0.010) were both independent influencing factors of PFS. The results of multivariate analysis showed that tumor T stage (HR=2.121, 95%CI: 1.142-3.938, P=0.017), N stage (HR=2.088, 95%CI: 1.144-3.811, P=0.016) and treatment method (HR=0.430, 95%CI: 0.226-0.815, P=0.010) were all independent prognostic factors of the OS of patients with advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; T stage (HR=1.884, 95%CI: 1.011-3.510, P=0.046) and N stage (HR=1.904, 95%CI: 1.058-3.429, P=0.032) were both independent prognostic factors of PFS. During the treatment period, there were statistically significant differences in the incidences of radioactive pharyngitis [7.41% (2/27) vs. 39.22% (20/51), χ²=8.821, P=0.003] and radioactive dermatitis [3.70% (1/27) vs. 29.41% (15/51), χ²=7.156, P=0.007] between the surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group and the chemoradiotherapy group. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of radioactive oral mucositis [11.11% (3/27) vs. 17.65% (9/51), χ²=0.186, P=0.666], bone marrow suppression [37.04% (10/27) vs. 50.98% (26/51), χ²=1.381, P=0.240], pharynx infection [11.11% (3/27) vs. 5.88% (3/51), χ²=0.143, P=0.706] and tracheal fistula [7.41% (2/27) vs. 0 (0/51), P=0.117] between the two groups. Conclusion The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates in the surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group are higher than those in the chemoradiotherapy group, and the incidences of adverse reactions are low. T stage, N stage and treatment method are independent prognostic factors for OS of advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients, while T stage and N stage are independent prognostic factors for PFS.

Key words: Hypopharyngeal neoplasms, Surgical procedures, operative, Chemoradiotherapy, Com-bined modality therapy, Prognosis