Treatment regimens for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a “real life” multicenter study of 2307 patients

This retrospective multicenter study aimed to evaluate surgical versus conservative treatment in patients with hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer under real world conditions.

This study included 2307 patients diagnosed with hypopharyngeal or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in five German tertiary head and neck centers between 01/2004 and 12/2014. Overall, 783 patients with advanced SCC consecutively underwent laryng(opharyng)ectomy (L(P)E). Patient chart data regarding age, sex, tumor location, TNM status, grading, indication for L(P)E, treatment modalities, R status, postoperative complications, and hospitalization time were analyzed. Patients with lacking data and incomplete staging and those who refused treatment or did not comply with the recommended treatment were excluded from survival analysis.

A slight but significant increase was observed in L(P)E, referring to an increasing rate of tumor recurrence. While T1/2N0M0 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer patients showed comparable overall survival (OS) for surgical and conservative treatment, surgery showed significantly better OS in lymph node-positive individuals and locally advanced tumor stages. Tumor recurrence occurred in more than one-third of the cases. In particular, in early glottic cancer recurrence, L(P)E represents a curative and safe treatment option, whereas in supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancer, L(P)E was associated with reduced survival rates. Notably, 36% of patients with supraglottic cancer and 59% of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer recurrence could only be treated with palliative care.

Comparable survival rates were demonstrated for cT1/2N0M0 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal SCC compared with primary chemo-/radiotherapy and larynx-preserving surgery. Better OS was achieved after surgery in nodal-positive patients and in those with locally advanced disease. Tumor recurrence should be anticipated in up to 39% of cases. Glottic cancer recurrence can be successfully and safely treated with L(P)E, whereas OS is reduced in hypopharyngeal cancer and possibly in supraglottic cancer.