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We aimed to analyze risk factors associated with poor survival outcomes for metastatic cutaneous head-and-neck SCC to the parotid.All patients undergoing surgery for metastatic cutaneous SCC to the parotid with curative intent between 2011 and 2018, were reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Histopathological data including tumor size and histology, tumor grade, TNM stage, resection margins, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion, were analyzed. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and freedom from locoregional recurrence (LRR) were assessed.Ninety patients were included (mean age, 77 years; 75 men [83.3%]). A total parotidectomy was performed in 48 patients (53.3%), and 42 (46.7%) underwent a superficial parotidectomy. Seventy patients (77.8%) underwent adjuvant RT. The median follow-up was 31 months (20-39 months). Tumor volume ≥ 50 cmA shorter duration of adjuvant RT, and excised tumor volume ≥50 cmLevel 4 Laryngoscope, 2022.

Primary radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy (RT/CRT) is the most common treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC), but there has been an increase in transoral surgery (TOS) for T1-2 tumors. Because only a subset of T1-2 tumors are TOS-favorable, nonrandomized comparisons between RT/CRT and TOS could be confounded by indication. We aimed to compare outcomes of potential TOS-candidates versus non-TOS candidates, among patients who underwent RT/CRT for early T-stage OPSCC.For patients treated with RT/CRT for early-stage human papilloma virus positive OPSCC between 2014 and 2018, pretreatment imaging was reviewed by 3 head and neck surgeons, blinded to outcomes, to assess primary-site appropriateness for TOS, and extracapsular extension (ECE) was scored by a head and neck neuroradiologist. We compared outcomes based on surgical favorability pertaining to (1) the primary site tumor alone and (2) the primary site and an absence of ECE. Kaplan-Meier estimates for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared using the log-rank test, with Cox regression used for multivariable modeling.One hundred and forty-three patients were evaluated, of which 121 were male (84.6%), the median age was 59.4 years, and all of them were p16 positive (100%). The primary site was TOS-favorable in 115 of 143 (80.4%). Patients with TOS-favorable primary site experienced superior 5-year OS (89.8% vs 71.2%, P = .017), DSS (90.4% vs 63.4%, P = .022), and RFS (83% vs 49.4%, P = .04) compared with TOS-unfavorable patients. Similarly, patients with a TOS-favorable primary site and no ECE on imaging 101 of 143 (70.6%), had improved OS, DSS, and RFS (P.05) compared with TOS-unfavorable patients.In this first study to assess surgical favorability as a prognostic factor among patients with T1/2 p16+ OPSCC, patients with TOS-favorable early-stage OPSCC have better outcomes than TOS-unfavorable patients. This provides valuable prognostic information for patients, and also suggests the risk of confounding by indication in nonrandomized comparisons of treatment modalities.

The oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease states have been recently recognized as common clinical scenarios in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As a result, there has been increasing interest in treating these patients with locally ablative therapies including surgery, conventionally fractionated radiotherapy, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation. This article provides an overview of oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease in the setting of NSCLC and reviews the evidence supporting ablative treatment. Phase II randomized controlled trials and retrospective series suggest that ablative treatment of oligometastases may substantially improve progression-free survival and overall survival, and additional large randomized studies testing this hypothesis in a definitive context are ongoing. However, several challenges remain, including quantifying the possible benefits of ablative therapies for oligoprogressive disease and developing prognostic and predictive models to assist in clinical decision making.

PurposeHuman papillomavirus-associated (HPV+) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the fastest rising cancer in North America. There is significant interest in treatment de-escalation for these patients given the generally favourable prognosis. However, 15-30% of patients recur after primary treatment, reflecting a need for improved risk-stratification tools. We sought to develop a molecular test to predict the survival of patients with newly diagnosed HPV+ HNSCC.MethodsWe created a prognostic score (UWO3) that was successfully validated in six independent cohorts comprising 906 patients, including blinded retrospective and prospective external validations. Transcriptomic data from two aggressive radiation de-escalation cohorts were used to assess the ability of UWO3 to identify patients who recur. Multivariate Cox models were used to assess the associations between the UWO3 immune class and outcomes.ResultsA three-gene immune score classified patients into three immune classes (immune rich, mixed, or immune desert) and was strongly associated with disease-free survival in six datasets, including large retrospective and prospective datasets. Pooled analysis demonstrated that the immune rich group had superior disease-free survival at 5 years to the immune desert (HR= 9.0, 95% CI 3.2–25.5, P=3.6×10−5) and mixed (HR=6.4, 95%CI 2.2–18.7, P=0.006) groups after adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, and AJCC8 clinical stage. Finally, UWO3 was able to identify patients from two treatment de-escalation cohorts who remain disease-free after aggressive de-escalation to 30 Gy radiation.ConclusionsThe UWO3 immune score could enable biomarker-driven clinical decision-making for patients with HPV+ HNSCC based on robust outcome prediction across six independent cohorts. The superior survival of immune rich patients supports de-intensification strategies, while the inferior outcomes of the immune desert patients suggest the potential for intensification and/or immunotherapy. Prospective de-escalation and intensification clinical trials are currently being planned.

BackgroundNumerous studies of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have demonstrated disparate outcomes by race and ethnicity. Beyond known associations with socioeconomic variables, whether these are also associated with differences in tumor molecular composition has thus far been poorly explored.MethodsWe downloaded clinical and multiplatform molecular data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and other published studies. These were compared between non-Hispanic Black (n=43) and White (n=354) patients with non-HPV-related tumors, using multivariable models. Publicly available validation cohorts were used.ResultsBlack patients had poorer progression-free survival than White patients. Tumors of Black patients had greater copy number aberrations, and increased SFRP1 methylation and miRNA-mediated PRG4 silencing associated with poor survival. PI3K/AkT/mTOR pathway proteins were differentially expressed.ConclusionsThere are molecular differences between tumors of Black and White patients that may partially account for differences in survival. These may inform targeted treatment decisions to achieve equitable outcomes.

Loss of the 3p chromosome arm has previously been reported to be a biomarker of poorer outcome in both human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancer. However, the precise operational measurement of 3p arm loss is unclear and the mutational profile associated with the event has not been thoroughly characterized. We downloaded the clinical, single nucleotide variation (SNV), copy number aberration (CNA), RNA sequencing, and reverse phase protein assay (RPPA) data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Cancer Proteome Atlas HNSCC cohorts. Survival data and hypoxia scores were downloaded from published studies. In addition, we report the inclusion of an independent Memorial Sloan Kettering cohort. We assessed the frequency of loci deletions across the 3p arm separately in HPV-positive and -negative disease. We found that deletions on chromosome 3p were almost exclusively an all or none event in the HPV-negative cohort, patients either had &lt, 1% or &gt, 97% of the arm deleted. 3p arm loss, defined as &gt, 97% deletion in HPV-positive patients and &gt, 50% in HPV-negative patients, had no impact on survival (p &gt, 0.05). However, HPV-negative tumors with 3p arm loss presented at a higher N-category and overall stage and developed more distant metastases (p &lt, 0.05). They were enriched for SNVs in TP53, and depleted for point mutations in CASP8, HRAS, HLA-A, HUWE1, HLA-B, and COL22A1 (false discovery rate, FDR &lt, 0.05). 3p arm loss was associated with CNAs across the whole genome (FDR &lt, 0.1), and pathway analysis revealed low lymphoid–non-lymphoid cell interactions and cytokine signaling (FDR &lt, 0.1). In the tumor microenvironment, 3p arm lost tumors had low immune cell infiltration (FDR &lt, 0.1) and elevated hypoxia (FDR &lt, 0.1). 3p arm lost tumors had lower abundance of proteins phospho-HER3 and ANXA1, and higher abundance of miRNAs hsa-miR-548k and hsa-miR-421, which were all associated with survival. There were no molecular differences by 3p arm status in HPV-positive patients, at least at our statistical power level. 3p arm loss is largely an all or none phenomenon in HPV-negative disease and does not predict poorer survival from the time of diagnosis in TCGA cohort. However, it produces tumors with distinct molecular characteristics and may represent a clinically useful biomarker to guide treatment decisions for HPV-negative patients.

TPS12144 Background: Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LASCCHN) receive curative chemoradiation (CRT) with Cisplatin, as a standard of care. A meta-analysis of 52 randomized trials comparing Low Dose (LD) and High Dose (HD) schedules demonstrated differing toxicity profiles but hearing effects were not rigorously studied. Hearing loss associated with HD Cisplatin can result in survivorship challenges. A local study suggested a protective effect for LD Cisplatin in relation to ototoxicity and pharmacogenomic markers, MATE1 and COMT, to be associated with risk for ototoxicity. We hypothesize that LD cisplatin is associated with reduced frequency of hearing loss when compared to the standard HD cisplatin in LASCCHN patients on CRT and that differences in MATE1/COMT can predict for cisplatin-related ototoxicity and be identified prior to treatment. Our goal is to develop an innovative personalized treatment pathway incorporating predictive pharmacogenomics markers to improve the tolerability and survivorship outcomes of curative CRT for LASCCHN. Methods: This is a prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial. Following informed consent, eligible LASCCHN patients planned for primary CRT will be stratified by tumor p16 status and then randomized in 1:1 fashion to either concurrent LD Cisplatin (40mg/m2 every week) or HD cisplatin (100mg/m2 every 3 weeks). The primary outcome is to measure the change in incidence of CTCAE grade ≥2 hearing loss and hearing-related quality of life (QOL) at 1 year. As part of secondary and exploratory outcomes, differences in survival, loco-regional control, global QOL and other toxicities (e.g. nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity) will be assessed. The relationship between MATE1 and COMT, as predictors for cisplatin-related ototoxicity will be evaluated. Cost-effectiveness analyses comparing the two regimens will be assessed. Statistical plan: Based on rates of CTCAE grade ≥2 hearing loss in an earlier study (Winquist et al., 2016), assuming a conservative rate of hearing loss, amongst treated patients, of 60% with HD cisplatin and 30% with LD cisplatin, a total sample size of 92 patients would achieve > 80% statistical power, (two-sided, alpha = 0.05 test of two proportions) to detect these differences. 100 patients would be targeted to accrual for an assumed 5% noncompliance rate. For hearing related QOL, a two-sided, alpha = 0.05, two-sample t-test with 50 patients per group would achieve > 80% statistical power to detect an effect size of 0.60 and > 95% power to detect an effect size of 0.75. All analyses will be based primarily on the intent-to-treat population. An arms-length data and safety monitoring committee (DSMC) will review safety data bi-annually. Trial accrual status: 60 participants have been accrued. Clinical trial information: NCT03649048.

Background Radiation-induced mucositis (RIM) pain confers substantial morbidity for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy alone (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT), often reducing treatment compliance. However, no standard currently exists for the treatment of RIM, and high dose opioid therapy, with its associated side effects and increased risk for chronic opioid use, remains the cornerstone of HNC pain management. The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to compare multimodal analgesia using analgesic medications with different mechanisms of action, to the institutional standard of opioid analgesia alone, in order to ascertain the optimal analgesic regimen for the management of RIM pain in HNC patients. Methods In this open-label, single-institution, non-inferiority, randomized clinical trial, sixty-two patients with mucosal head and neck malignancies treated with curative-intent radiation will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio, stratified by RT or CRT, between Arm 1: opioid analgesia alone as per the institutional standard, or Arm 2: multimodal analgesia using Pregabalin, Acetaminophen, and Naproxen, in addition to opioids, if required. The primary endpoint is the average 11-Numeric Rating Scale (11-NRS) score for pain during the last week of radiation treatment. Secondary endpoints include: average weekly opioid use, duration of opioid requirement, average daily 11-NRS score for pain, average weekly opioids dispensed, quality of life, hospitalizations for analgesic medication-induced complications, time to feeding tube insertion, weight loss, toxicity, treatment interruptions, and death within 3 months of completing RT treatment. Patients are eligible once analgesia is required for moderate 4/10 pain. Discussion This study will assess the efficacy and safety of multimodal analgesia and its impact on opioid requirements, clinical outcomes, and quality of life, as a potential new standard treatment for RIM pain in HNC patients undergoing definitive RT or CRT. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04221165. Date of registration: January 9, 2020. Appendix 2 reports the World Health Organization trial registration dataset.

Additional file 1. Pain Diary.

Background Transoral surgery (TOS), particularly transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has become the preferred modality in the United States for the treatment of early stage oropharyngeal cancer, largely due to assumptions of fewer toxicities and improved quality of life compared to primary radiotherapy (RT). However, these assumptions are based on retrospective analysis, a subset of which utilize primary RT groups not limited to T1-2 stage tumors for which transoral robotic surgery is FDA approved. Thus, there is potential for underestimating survival and overestimating toxicity, including treatment related mortality, in primary RT. Methods Consecutive cases of early T-stage (T1–T2) oropharyngeal cancer presenting to the London Health Sciences Centre between 2014 and 2018 treated with RT or chemoradiation (CRT) were reviewed. Patient demographics, treatment details, survival outcomes and toxicity were collected. Toxicities were retrospectively graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events criteria. Results A total of 198 patients were identified, of which 82% were male and 73% were HPV-positive. Sixty-eight percent of patients experienced a grade 2 toxicity, 48% a grade 3 and 4% a grade 4. The most frequent toxicities were dysphagia, neutropenia and ototoxicity. The rates of gastrostomy tube dependence at 1 and 2 years were 2.5% and 1% respectively. There were no grade 5 (fatal) toxicities. HPV-positive patients experienced improved 5-year overall survival (86% vs 64%, p = 0.0026). Conclusions Primary RT or CRT provides outstanding survival for early T-stage disease, with low rates of severe toxicity and feeding tube dependence. This study provides a reference for comparison for patients treated with primary transoral surgery.

Background Patients with resected oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) are often treated with adjuvant radiation (RT) ± concomitant chemotherapy based on pathological findings. Standard RT volumes include all surgically dissected areas, including the tumour bed and dissected neck. RT has significant acute and long-term toxicities including odynophagia, dysphagia, dermatitis and fibrosis. The goal of this study is to assess the rate of regional failure with omission of radiation to the surgically dissected pathologically node negative (pN0) hemi-neck(s) compared to historical control, and to compare oncologic outcomes, toxicity, and quality of life (QoL) profiles between standard RT volumes and omission of RT to the pN0 neck. Methods This is a multicentre phase II study randomizing 90 patients with T1–4 N0–2 OCSCC with at least one pN0 hemi-neck in a 1:2 ratio between standard RT volumes and omission of RT to the pN0 hemi-neck(s). Patients will be stratified based on overall nodal status (nodal involvement vs. no nodal involvement) and use of concurrent chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is regional failure in the pN0 hemi-neck(s); we hypothesize that a 2-year regional recurrence of 20% or less will be achieved. Secondary endpoints include overall and progression-free survival, local recurrence, rate of salvage therapy, toxicity and QoL. Discussion This study will provide an assessment of omission of RT to the dissected pN0 hemi-neck(s) on oncologic outcomes, QoL and toxicity. Results will inform the design of future definitive phase III trials. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03997643. Date of registration: June 25, 2019, Current version: 2.0 on July 11 2020.

We present the case of a woman diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) while undergoing chemoradiation for locally advanced cervix cancer. This diagnosis had implications for the treatment of her cancer, and a number of important decisions had to be made. We present the issues that arose and how her oncologic care was managed.

Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Recent advances in lung cancer screening, radiotherapy, surgical techniques, and systemic therapy have led to increasing complexity in diagnosis, treatment decision-making, and assessment of recurrence. Artificial intelligence (AI)–based prediction models are being developed to address these issues and may have a future role in screening, diagnosis, treatment selection, and decision-making around salvage therapy. Imaging plays an essential role in all components of lung cancer management and has the potential to play a key role in AI applications. Artificial intelligence has demonstrated value in prognostic biomarker discovery in lung cancer diagnosis, treatment, and response assessment, putting it at the forefront of the next phase of personalized medicine. However, although exploratory studies demonstrate potential utility, there is a need for rigorous validation and standardization before AI can be utilized in clinical decision-making. In this review, we will provide a summary of the current literature implementing AI for outcome prediction in lung cancer. We will describe the anticipated impact of AI on the management of patients with lung cancer and discuss the challenges of clinical implementation of these techniques.

The treatment of patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) is rapidly evolving and challenging the standard of care of definitive radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin. There are numerous promising de-escalation strategies under investigation, including deintensified definitive chemoradiotherapy, transoral surgery followed by de-escalated adjuvant therapy, and induction chemotherapy followed by de-escalated locoregional therapy. Definitive radiotherapy alone or with cetuximab is not recommended for curative-intent treatment of patients with locally advanced HPV-OPC. The results of ongoing phase III studies are awaited to help answer key questions and address ongoing controversies to transform the treatment of patients with HPV-OPC. Strategies for de-escalation under investigation include the incorporation of immunotherapy and the use of novel biomarkers for patient selection for de-escalation.

Additional file 5. Study Information and Informed Consent Form.

Background Patients with human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC) have substantially better treatment response and overall survival (OS) than patients with HPV-negative disease. Treatment options for HPV+ OPC can involve either a primary radiotherapy (RT) approach (± concomitant chemotherapy) or a primary surgical approach (± adjuvant radiation) with transoral surgery (TOS). These two treatment paradigms have different spectrums of toxicity. The goals of this study are to assess the OS of two de-escalation approaches (primary radiotherapy and primary TOS) compared to historical control, and to compare survival, toxicity and quality of life (QOL) profiles between the two approaches. Methods This is a multicenter phase II study randomizing one hundred and forty patients with T1–2 N0–2 HPV+ OPC in a 1:1 ratio between de-escalated primary radiotherapy (60 Gy) ± concomitant chemotherapy and TOS ± de-escalated adjuvant radiotherapy (50–60 Gy based on risk factors). Patients will be stratified based on smoking status ( Discussion This study will provide an assessment of two de-escalation approaches to the treatment of HPV+ OPC on oncologic outcomes, QOL and toxicity. Results will inform the design of future definitive phase III trials. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03210103. Date of registration: July 6, 2017, Current version: 1.3 on March 15, 2019.

Additional file 4. Lab Guidelines.

Additional file 6. World Health Organization Trial Registration Dataset.

Additional file 1. Treatment Planning Guidelines.

© The Author(s) 2020. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based models have become a growing area of interest in predictive medicine and have the potential to aid physician decision-making to improve patient outcomes. Imaging and radiomics play an increasingly important role in these models. This review summarizes recent developments in the field of radiomics for AI in head and neck cancer. Prediction models for oncologic outcomes, treatment toxicity, and pathological findings have all been created. Exploratory studies are promising; however, validation studies that demonstrate consistency, reproducibility, and prognostic impact remain uncommon. Prospective clinical trials with standardized procedures are required for clinical translation.

Additional file 2. Surgical Credentialling Form.

Additional file 3. Schedule of Enrolment, Interventions and Assessments.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging technique for treatment of primary and recurrent head and neck cancers in patients unsuited for conventional management strategies. SBRT has demonstrated favourable responses and tolerable toxicity profiles for patients with unresectable primary disease or recurrent tumours. Severe toxicity risk remains, with carotid blowout syndrome a unique concern despite strategies to minimize risk.

e18039 Background: Angiosarcoma of the head and neck (ASHN) is a rare entity and confers substantial morbidity and mortality. Yet, the optimal management of ASHN remains unclear. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of ASHN and to identify the most favorable treatment approach. Methods: We performed a systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, using the PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases, queried from 1990 until present. Articles in the English language reporting on survival outcomes of adult primary ASHN treated with curative-intent, were included. All estimates were weighted based on sample size. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two-sample t-tests were used as appropriate. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021220970. Results: A total of 3652 studies were identified, with 14 articles reporting on 2265 ASHN patients, meeting inclusion criteria. Mean ± SD age was 70.6 ± 7.7 years with 1621 (66.6%) men and 812 (33.4%) women. ASHN involved the scalp (n = 176, 57.9%) and the face (n = 128, 42.1%). 249 patients had early stage I-II disease (39.6%) whereas 379 had late stage III-IV disease (60.4%). Most (n = 529, 45.6%) received surgery and radiotherapy (RT), 305 (26.3%) received surgery alone, 210 (18.1%) received definitive RT/chemoradiotherapy (CRT), 75 (6.5%) received surgery and CRT, and 33 (2.8%) received surgery and chemotherapy. Negative margins were achieved in 471 (55.9%) whereas 371 (44.1%) had positive margins. Mean ± SD follow-up was 41.7 ± 15.4 months. Weighted mean, 1-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival (OS) were 26.9 months, 67.3%, 30.6%, and 20.8% respectively. Mean and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) were 72.9 months and 50.3% respectively. Mean ± SD local recurrence rate (LRR) was 32.1 ± 11.7%. Median RT dose delivered was 60 Gy (interquartile range: 60-70). Patients who received surgery had a significantly higher mean OS (34.9 vs. 18.7 months, P = 0.04) and 5-year OS (30.1 vs. 14.2%, P = 0.01) compared with those who did not receive surgery. There was no significant difference in mean OS for receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.99) or RT (P = 0.51). Conclusions: In the largest ASHN study to date, definitive surgical resection was associated with an improvement in OS. Multimodality treatment did not confer an OS benefit. Randomized trials are needed to establish the optimal treatment approach for ASHN.

6055 Background: Head and neck sarcomas (HNS) are rare entities and confer substantial morbidity and mortality. Yet, the optimal management of HNS remains unclear. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of HNS and to identify the most favorable treatment approach. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, using the PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases, queried from 1990 until present. Articles in the English language reporting on survival outcomes of adult primary HNS patients treated with curative-intent were included. All estimates were weighted based on sample size. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two-sample t-tests were used as appropriate. Meta-analyses were performed using random effects models. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021220970. Results: A total of 3652 articles were identified, with 42 articles reporting on 21228 patients, meeting inclusion criteria. Mean ± SD age was 56.7 ± 14.6 years with 14170 (67.0%) men and 6991 (33.0%) women. The most common locations included skin and soft tissues (n = 12749, 63.3%), bones of skull and face (n = 2256, 11.2%), and oral cavity (n = 1775, 8.8%). The most common histologies included undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (n = 5065, 24.8%), osteosarcoma (n = 2578, 12.6%), Kaposi sarcoma (n = 2316, 11.3%), chondrosarcoma (n = 2141, 10.5%), and hemangiosarcoma (n = 2072, 10.1%). 5459 patients had early stage I-II disease (76.9%) whereas 1643 had late stage III-IV disease (23.1%). Most received surgery alone (n = 10968, 61.0%), 3917 (21.8%) received surgery and radiotherapy (RT), 2173 (12.1%) received definitive RT/chemoradiotherapy (CRT), 811 (4.5%) received surgery and CRT, and 98 (0.5%) received surgery and chemotherapy. Negative margins were achieved in 6081 (76.5%). Mean ± SD follow-up was 55.3 ± 42.8 months. Weighted mean, 2-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival (OS) were 78.5 months, 75.9%, 63.2%, and 54.9% respectively. There was no significant difference in mean OS (P = 0.674) or 5-year OS (P = 0.965) between patients who received surgery alone, multimodality treatment with surgery and RT/CRT, or definitive RT/CRT. Mean ± SD 5-year OS was significantly higher with negative margins (62.7 ± 20.8%) compared with positive margins (22.7 ± 19.1%; P = 0.001). Mean ± SD local recurrence rate (LRR) was 32.0 ± 13.0%. LRRs were 41.8% for definitive RT/CRT, 39.3% for surgery and CRT, 33.6% for surgery alone, 24.7% for surgery and chemotherapy, and 20.1% for surgery and RT (P = 0.126). Conclusions: In the largest HNS study to date, negative margins were associated with an improvement in OS. Multimodality treatment did not confer an OS benefit. Definitive RT/CRT may be associated with a higher LRR. Randomized trials are needed to establish the optimal treatment approach for HNS.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated poorer outcomes by race/ethnicity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Although some studies have identified differences in socioeconomic status and access to care as important factors affecting outcomes, differences in the genomic and extracellular composition of tumors from patients of different races/ethnicities have yet to be explored. Methods: We downloaded the clinical information, single nucleotide variation (SNV), copy number aberration (CNA), mRNA sequencing, and reverse phase protein assay (RPPA) data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Cancer Proteome Altas HNSCC cohorts. Survival data and hypoxia scores were downloaded from published studies. We stratified the cohort into combined racio-ethnic groups (REG) as follows: White/Non-Hispanic (White), Hispanic/Latino (Hispanic), Black/African American (Black), Asian, American Indian/Non-Hispanic (Indigenous American). Cases positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) occurred almost exclusively among White patients (68/71) and thus they were excluded. Results: The HPV-negative cohort contained 354 White, 43 Black, 22 Hispanic and 11 Asian and 1 Indigenous American patient. Black patients had poorer overall and progression-free survival than White patients on univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively (p Citation Format: Hugh A.J. Kim, Peter Y.F. Zeng, Alana Sorgini, Mushfiq H. Shaikh, Neil Mundi, Halema Khan, Danielle MacNeil, Mohammed I. Khan, Krupal Patel, Adrian Mendez, John Yoo, Kevin Fung, Pencilla Lang, David A. Palma, Joe S. Mymryk, John W. Barrett, Paul C. Boutros, Anthony C. Nichols. Multi-omic disparities in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in patients of different racio-ethnic backgrounds [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR11.