Evaluation of risk-tailored individualized selection of radiation therapy target volume for head and neck carcinoma of unknown primary.

PURPOSE: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has enabled risk-tailored approach to elective mucosal and nodal clinical target volumes (CTVs) in treatment of head and neck carcinoma of unknown primary (HNCUP). This study report outcomes following such approach.

METHODS

HNCUP patients treated with definitive IMRT between 2005 and 2018 were reviewed. Local failure (LF), regional failure (RF), distant metastasis (DM), overall survival (OS) and grade ≥3 late toxicity (LT) were analyzed. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was used to identify OS predictors for entire cohort and cN2-3 subgroup.

RESULTS

A total of 203 patients were eligible: cN1 (7%), cN2a (14%), cN2b (46%), cN2c (14%) and cN3 (19%). Among 118 patients with known HPV status (by p16 staining), 81 (68%) were positive. IMRT target volume spared contralateral tonsil (55%), bilateral or contralateral sides of hypopharynx (72%), nasopharynx (72%), larynx (87%) and contralateral uninvolved neck (21%). Median follow-up was 5 years. Five-year LF, RF, DM, OS, and LT were 3%, 14%, 10%, 79%, and 7% respectively. Four patients developed mucosal recurrence: 3 within and 1 at the margin of the elective mucosal CTV. None of ipsilateral neck irradiation patients failed in the contralateral uninvolved neck. MVA identified cN2c-N3, HPV-negative status and older age as predictors for inferior OS. Within cN2-3 subgroup (n = 189): cN2c-N3, HPV-negative status and older age predicted lower OS, while concurrent chemotherapy was associated with better OS.

CONCLUSION

Definitive IMRT with risk-adaptive radiation volume de-escalation for HNCUP resulted in high probability of tumor control with acceptable rate of late toxicity.