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Updated: May 12, 2026

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Treatment selection for tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma.
Yao-Yuan Kuo1, Pen-Yuan Chu, Shyue-Yih Chang
1Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Both primary surgery and radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy (RT/CRT) offer effective treatment for tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with similar long-term survival and complication rates. Advanced T classification impacts outcomes, but treatment choice between surgery and RT/CRT does not significantly alter results.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Oncology
- Head and Neck Surgery
Background:
- Tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treatment remains controversial.
- Optimal therapeutic strategies require evaluation of long-term outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate long-term treatment outcomes for tonsillar SCC patients.
- To aid in selecting appropriate treatment modalities.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 105 patients with curatively treated tonsillar SCC (1996-2005).
- Comparison of primary surgery (n=43) versus radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy (RT/CRT, n=62) groups.
- Analysis of outcomes including local control, survival, and complications.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in local control, regional control, distant metastasis, disease-specific survival (DSS), or overall survival (OS) between surgery and RT/CRT groups.
- Similar rates of major complications, feeding tube dependency, and tracheostomy.
- Advanced T classification (T3-4) was associated with worse DSS and OS, irrespective of treatment modality.
Conclusions:
- Primary surgery and RT/CRT organ preservation are equally effective for tonsillar SCC.
- Single modality treatment is suitable for early-stage (I-II) disease.
- Multidisciplinary decision-making is crucial; tumor tonsillectomy is not indicated before RT/CRT.
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