Background: Increasing evidence exists that tumor volume may be a superior prognostic model than traditional TNM staging. It has been observed that oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (oropharyngeal SCC) in the setting of human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity have a greater propensity for cystic nodal metastases, and, thus, presumably larger volume with relatively smaller primary tumors. The influence of HPV status on the predictive value of tumor volume is unknown.
Methods: Fifty-three patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC were treated with definitive chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
Results: The estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was 92.2% and 83.6%, respectively. Nodal classification did not predict OS (p = .096) or DFS (p = .170). Similarly, T classification did not predict OS (p = .057) or DFS (p = .309). Lower nodal volume was associated with greater DFS (p = .001).
Conclusion: Nodal tumor volume was found to be predictive of DFS. DFS was best predicted by nodal gross tumor volume (GTV) at 24 months. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1613-E1617, 2016.
Keywords: human papillomavirus; intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT); neoplasm staging; oropharyngeal cancer; tumor burden.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.