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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Retroductal Submandibular Gland Instillation and Localized Fractionated Irradiation in a Rat Model of Salivary Hypofunction
Published on: April 24, 2016
Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Moderately Advanced (T3) Oral Cavity Cancers
Ronald S Wang1, Michael S Chow1, Alex J Gordon1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.
Objective:
To investigate the impact of adjuvant radiotherapy in isolated locally advanced oral cavity cancers (pT3N0M0) without adverse features.
Methods:
We selected all patients from the National Cancer Database (2004-2019) who underwent surgical treatment where the final pathology was T3N0M0 with negative margins. Demographics, details of treatment, and outcomes were abstracted. The impact of radiotherapy on survival was assessed with univariable, multivariable, and propensity score-matched analyses.
Results:
We identified 571 patients in our survival cohort. Most were male (348, 60.9%), and median age was 65. Less than one-third (176, 30.8%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. The median length of follow-up was 29 months. Overall, adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with improved survival (87.2% vs. 77.7%, at 2 years, p < 0.01). On multivariable analysis controlling for age and comorbidities, this survival difference persisted (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.43-0.90, p = 0.01). In a propensity score-matched population of 278 patients matched on age and comorbidities, adjuvant radiotherapy was still associated with longer survival (87.4% vs. 78.5%, p = 0.014).
Conclusion:
In our study, adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with improved survival in completely excised locally advanced oral cavity tumors (T3N0M0). However, a significant proportion of patients do not receive adjuvant radiotherapy. These findings highlight the need for continued efforts to promote guideline-recommended care.
Level Of Evidence:
3 Laryngoscope, 134:2236-2242, 2024.
