The role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using peri-operative brachytherapy (BRTx) for positive/narrow margins present post primary surgical resection of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Methods Prospective single-centre study of patient...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ilia Ianovski, Alex M. Mlynarek, Martin J. Black, Boris Bahoric, Khalil Sultanem, Michael P. Hier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-10-01
Series:Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-020-00467-w
_version_ 1797968097507803136
author Ilia Ianovski
Alex M. Mlynarek
Martin J. Black
Boris Bahoric
Khalil Sultanem
Michael P. Hier
author_facet Ilia Ianovski
Alex M. Mlynarek
Martin J. Black
Boris Bahoric
Khalil Sultanem
Michael P. Hier
author_sort Ilia Ianovski
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using peri-operative brachytherapy (BRTx) for positive/narrow margins present post primary surgical resection of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Methods Prospective single-centre study of patients with OTSCC (T1–3, N0–3, M0) treated with resection of primary tumour ± regional nodal resection and intra-operative insertion of BRTx catheters. BRTx was administered twice daily at 40.8Gy/12Fr for ‘Positive’ (≤2 mm) margins, at 34Gy/10Fr for ‘Narrow’ (2.1-5 mm) margins, and not given for ‘Clear’ (> 5 mm) margins over the course of 5–6 days, 3–5 days post operatively. Results Out of 55 patients recruited 41 patients (74.6%) were treated with BRTx, as 12 patients had clear margins and 2 patients had unfavourable tumour anatomy for catheter insertion. EBRTx was avoided in 64.3% of patients. Overall Survival (OS) at 3 and 5 years was 75.6 and 59.1% respectively, while Disease Specific Survival (DSS) was 82.3 and 68.6% at 3 and 5 years respectively. Recurrence and survival outcomes were not associated with margin status or the use of or specific dose of BRTx on Cox regression analysis. Acute and late toxicity secondary to BRTx was minimal. Conclusions The use of BRTx after primary OTSCC resection with positive/narrow margins ± EBRTx to the neck ± CTx achieves outcomes comparable to traditional treatment of surgery followed by re-resection or EBRTx ± CTx. Morbidity associated with oral cavity EBRTx or secondary resection and reconstruction is thus avoided. Both acute and late toxicity rates are low and compare favourably with other BRTx OTSCC studies. Trial registration Retrospectively registered. https://www.mcgill.ca/rcr-rcn/files/rcr-rcn/2017.06.05_rcn_hn.pdf . Level of evidence 4 Graphical abstract
first_indexed 2024-04-11T02:41:32Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d391289bddad4e579b8bfa7f1e5730f2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1916-0216
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T02:41:32Z
publishDate 2020-10-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
spelling doaj.art-d391289bddad4e579b8bfa7f1e5730f22023-01-02T19:05:33ZengBMCJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162020-10-0149111110.1186/s40463-020-00467-wThe role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomaIlia Ianovski0Alex M. Mlynarek1Martin J. Black2Boris Bahoric3Khalil Sultanem4Michael P. Hier5Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland City HospitalDepartment of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment Radiation Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment Radiation Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityAbstract Background The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using peri-operative brachytherapy (BRTx) for positive/narrow margins present post primary surgical resection of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Methods Prospective single-centre study of patients with OTSCC (T1–3, N0–3, M0) treated with resection of primary tumour ± regional nodal resection and intra-operative insertion of BRTx catheters. BRTx was administered twice daily at 40.8Gy/12Fr for ‘Positive’ (≤2 mm) margins, at 34Gy/10Fr for ‘Narrow’ (2.1-5 mm) margins, and not given for ‘Clear’ (> 5 mm) margins over the course of 5–6 days, 3–5 days post operatively. Results Out of 55 patients recruited 41 patients (74.6%) were treated with BRTx, as 12 patients had clear margins and 2 patients had unfavourable tumour anatomy for catheter insertion. EBRTx was avoided in 64.3% of patients. Overall Survival (OS) at 3 and 5 years was 75.6 and 59.1% respectively, while Disease Specific Survival (DSS) was 82.3 and 68.6% at 3 and 5 years respectively. Recurrence and survival outcomes were not associated with margin status or the use of or specific dose of BRTx on Cox regression analysis. Acute and late toxicity secondary to BRTx was minimal. Conclusions The use of BRTx after primary OTSCC resection with positive/narrow margins ± EBRTx to the neck ± CTx achieves outcomes comparable to traditional treatment of surgery followed by re-resection or EBRTx ± CTx. Morbidity associated with oral cavity EBRTx or secondary resection and reconstruction is thus avoided. Both acute and late toxicity rates are low and compare favourably with other BRTx OTSCC studies. Trial registration Retrospectively registered. https://www.mcgill.ca/rcr-rcn/files/rcr-rcn/2017.06.05_rcn_hn.pdf . Level of evidence 4 Graphical abstracthttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-020-00467-wOral cavityRadiation therapyNeck dissectionSquamous cell carcinomaTongue cancerOral cancer
spellingShingle Ilia Ianovski
Alex M. Mlynarek
Martin J. Black
Boris Bahoric
Khalil Sultanem
Michael P. Hier
The role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Oral cavity
Radiation therapy
Neck dissection
Squamous cell carcinoma
Tongue cancer
Oral cancer
title The role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
title_full The role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
title_fullStr The role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed The role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
title_short The role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
title_sort role of brachytherapy for margin control in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
topic Oral cavity
Radiation therapy
Neck dissection
Squamous cell carcinoma
Tongue cancer
Oral cancer
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-020-00467-w
work_keys_str_mv AT iliaianovski theroleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT alexmmlynarek theroleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT martinjblack theroleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT borisbahoric theroleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT khalilsultanem theroleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT michaelphier theroleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT iliaianovski roleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT alexmmlynarek roleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT martinjblack roleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT borisbahoric roleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT khalilsultanem roleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma
AT michaelphier roleofbrachytherapyformargincontrolinoraltonguesquamouscellcarcinoma