Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Oral Cancers: A Retrospective Analytical Study

Introduction Head and neck cancers account for 30% of malignancies in India and oral squamous cell carcinoma is most common. 80% of the patients present with locally advanced disease and many of them are inoperable. In this study we documented the outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in locally advanced oral cancer staged T4 with regards to downstaging the disease and to make the tumor more amenable for surgery with better access. The objectives of the study are to document the outcomes of NACT in patients with locally advanced oral cancers and to correlate the response to NACT and adequacy of resection by histopathology examination of the specimen. Methodology Clinical data of 96 patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity staged T4a and T4bwho received two cycles of NACT between December 2018 and November 2022 were reviewed respectively and the outcomes and response following NACT were documented. Results Among 96 patients in this study, 68 (70.9%) patients were staged T4a and 28 (29.1%) were staged T4b. 31 (30.2%) patients showed partial response, 36 (37.5%) had stable disease and 29 (30.2%) had progressive disease following 2 cycles of NACT. All patients underwent definitive surgery following NACT and were followed up for 14 months. Among those staged T4a, 12 patients (33.3%) had close margins, eight patients (34.8%) had positive margins and 10 patients (16.2%) had a recurrence. Among those staged T4b, 24 patients (66.7%) had close margins (less than 5mm distance after formalin fixation), 15 patients (65.2%) had positive margins while 17 patients (60.7%) had a recurrence in the 14 month follow-up period. Conclusion NACT makes tumors more amenable for surgery in locally advanced oral squamous carcinoma. However, 30% of patients do not respond to it.