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Survival impact of treatment delays in surgically managed oropharyngeal cancer and the role of human papillomavirus status
Author(s) -
Goel Alexander N.,
Frangos Mariana,
Raghavan Govind,
Sangar Sophia,
Lazaro Stephanie,
Wang Marilene B.,
Long Jennifer L.,
St. John Maie A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.25643
Subject(s) - medicine , human papillomavirus , cancer , oncology , adjuvant radiotherapy , radiation therapy , overall survival , disease , adjuvant
Background The impact of treatment delays on survival in oropharyngeal cancer and whether the effect varies by human papillomavirus (HPV) status have yet to be defined. Methods Retrospective analysis of the survival impact of time from diagnosis to surgery (DTS), surgery to radiation (SRT), and duration of radiation (RTD) for patients in the National Cancer Database with resected oropharyngeal cancer who underwent adjuvant radiation from 2010 to 2014. Results We identified optimal thresholds of 30, 40, and 51 days for DTS, SRT, and RTD, respectively, with treatment times exceeding these thresholds associated with significantly worse overall survival. Prolonged SRT and RTD were associated with mortality regardless of HPV status, although rising DTS was only predictive among patients with HPV‐negative tumors. Conclusions Treatment delays significantly impact survival in oropharyngeal cancer. The consequences of prolonged DTS may be stronger in HPV‐negative than HPV‐positive disease. These data serve as a foundation for future research and clinical management.