Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Porcine As a Training Module for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction

Porcine As a Training Module for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction

Published on: September 29, 2018

Organ Function Preservation Failure after (Chemo)Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort

Jolien Heukelom¹, Arash Navran¹, Zeno A R Gouw¹

¹1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

|May 8, 2019

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the current study was to determine the incidence of organ function preservation failure (OFPF) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated by (chemo)radiotherapy and to identify its risk factors.

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting:

Tertiary cancer care center.

Subjects And Methods:

A single-center retrospective cohort analysis was done (n = 703) in which OFPF after (chemo)radiotherapy was assessed. OFPF was defined as local failure or pure functional failure in the absence of local failure because of major surgical intervention (total laryngectomy, commando resection, permanent tracheostomy) or feeding tube dependence >2 years.

Results:

OFPF occurred in 153 patients (21.8%). Reasons for OFPF were local failure in 103 patients (14.6%) and functional failure in 50 patients (7.2%). Evidence of functional failure included need for total laryngectomy (n = 9, 1.3%), commando resection (n = 2, 0.3%), permanent tracheostomy (n = 16, 2.3%), and/or long-term feeding tube for functional reasons (n = 23, 3.3%). In a Cox proportional hazards model, OFPF was worse for patients with T4 tumors (hazard ratio [HR] <0.5 and P < .001 for all other stages), for laryngeal vs oropharyngeal cancer (HR, 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-2.79, P = .005, hypopharyngeal not significant), and for smokers (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.10-2.56, P = .015). Exploratory multivariate analysis by tumor site showed that T4 tumor and pretreatment tracheostomy were the strongest predictive factors for OFPF in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma while T4 tumor and smoking were predictive for poor OFPF in oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Conclusion:

This work shows a detrimental effect of smoking on functional outcomes after (chemo-)radiotherapy for HNSCC. Moreover, T4 tumor, laryngeal subsite, and pretreatment tracheostomy are strong predictors of OFPF.

Keywords:

chemoradiation functional failure head and neck cancer organ function preservation toxicity

More Related Videos

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: January 5, 2017

In Vitro Establishment of a Genetically Engineered Murine Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line using an Adeno-Associated Virus-Cas9 System

In Vitro Establishment of a Genetically Engineered Murine Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line using an Adeno-Associated Virus-Cas9 System

Published on: January 9, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Arteries of the Head and Neck

Arteries of the Head and Neck

The human body's intricate network of arteries ensures that every organ system receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients for optimal function. The arterial network in the head and neck region is particularly complex, providing vital blood flow to the brain, eyes, and other critical structures. Prominent arteries in this region include the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries.
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...

Veins of Head and Neck

Veins of Head and Neck

The blood drainage from the head and neck is primarily managed by three pairs of veins: the external jugular, internal jugular, and vertebral veins. The external jugular veins drain superficial scalp and face structures, passing over the sternocleidomastoid muscles to empty into the subclavian veins.
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...

Muscles of the Anterior Neck

Muscles of the Anterior Neck

The anterior neck muscles are the group of muscles covering the front part of the neck. These muscles are classified into three subgroups. The first one is the superficial muscles, the most visible muscles in the front of the neck. It includes the platysma and sternocleidomastoid. The second group is the suprahyoid muscles, located above the hyoid bone. This group comprises the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. Lastly, the infrahyoid muscles are found below the hyoid bone and...

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...

Muscles that Move the Head

Muscles that Move the Head

The muscles that move the head are a dynamic and complex group of structures that work together to facilitate a wide range of head movements, including rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending.
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...

Levels of Organization

Levels of Organization

Biological organization is the classification of biological structures, ranging from atoms at the bottom of the hierarchy to the Earth's biosphere. Each level of the hierarchy represents an increase in complexity that builds upon the previous level.
Molecules Are Composed of Atoms, and Biomolecules Are Assembled from Molecules:
The most basic levels include atoms, molecules, and biomolecules. Atoms, the smallest unit of ordinary matter, are composed of a nucleus and electrons. Molecules...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Breathing-phase selection for gated proton therapy in lung cancer towards temporally targeted ultra-high dose rate delivery.

Physics and imaging in radiation oncology·2026

Cell-free DNA genomic and fragmentomic features for early outcome prediction in large B cell lymphoma.

Cell reports. Medicine·2026

Towards FLASH Radiotherapy in Lung Cancer: A Review on Preclinical Evidence and Technical Feasibility.

Cancers·2026

Comparison of model-based and delineation-based target volume definition for ocular proton therapy.

Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB)·2026

Targeting homologous recombination deficiency with intensified chemotherapy versus standard chemotherapy followed by olaparib in stage III breast cancer (SUBITO): an open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial.

The Lancet. Oncology·2026

The survival impact of combining radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with solid tumors: A systematic review and living meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)·2026

See all related articles