Adjuvant photodynamic therapy in head and neck cancer after tumor-positive resection margins

Objective

In case of close or positive resection margins after oncological resection in head and neck surgery, additional treatment is necessary. When conventional options are exhausted, photodynamic therapy (PDT) can play a role in achieving clear margins. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical benefit of PDT as adjuvant therapy next to surgery with positive resection margins. The role of the time interval between surgery and PDT on survival outcomes also was investigated.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Methods

Adjuvant PDT was performed in patients with a malignancy in the head and neck region with close or positive resection margins who were not eligible for conventional treatment options. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. Secondary endpoints were disease-free survival, overall survival, and optimal time interval between surgery and PDT.

Results

Fifty-four patients were treated with surgery followed by meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin-mediated PDT. There was a large diversity in tumor location and histopathology, as well as in time interval between surgery and PDT. The 2-year progression-free survival rate was 30%; 2-year disease-free survival rate was 28%; and 2-year overall survival was 51%. Disease-free survival was significantly better when the time interval between surgery and PDT was ≥ 6 weeks (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

PDT can be applied as adjuvant therapy after surgery in cases of a malignancy with close or positive tumor resection margins. However, the clinical benefits are yet to be determined. There is a significantly better disease-free survival with a time interval between surgery and PDT of minimal 6 weeks.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 2017

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