OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the recurrence interval influenced the survival of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients after relapse.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective charts were reviewed at a medical center.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1687 chart records of oral cancer patients. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, and Cox proportional hazard models for investigating the relationship between the recurrence interval and survival of oral cancer patients after relapse.
RESULTS: Local recurrence rate was 31.3 percent. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed the 5-year overall survival after recurrence was 31.56 percent. Cox proportional hazard model revealed that those with recurrence interval less than 18 months tended to have a higher probability of death than those with recurrence interval greater than or equal to 18 months (relative risk, 1.743; 95% confidence interval, 1.298–2.358).
CONCLUSION: The interval from initial treatment to recurrence is an independent prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Those with a shorter disease-free interval tend to have a less favorable outcome.
ParkenDMLaaraEMuirCS. Estimates of the worldwide frequency of sixteen major cancers in 1980.Int J Cancer1988;41:184–97
2.
YoungIS. National Health Research Institute Forum: Epidemiological studies on areca quid and oral cancer.Taiwan, R.O.C.; National Health Research Institute: 2000. p. 16–20. (Chinese)
3.
CarvalhoALNishimotoINCalifanoJA. Trends in incidence and prognosis for head and neck cancer in the United States: A site-specific analysis of the SEER database.Int J Cancer2004;114:806–16
4.
DayGLBlotWJ. Second primary tumors in patients with oral cancer.Cancer1992;70:14–9
5.
ViragMMBunarevicAAljinovicN. Recurrences of oral cancer due to discontinuous periosteal involvement.Am J Surg1991;162:388–91
6.
KowalskiLP. Results of salvage treatment of the neck in patients with oral cancer.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg2002;128:58–62
7.
MishraRCParidaGMishraTK. Tumour thickness and relationship to locoregional failure in cancer of the buccal mucosa.Eur J Surg Oncol1999;25:186–9
8.
GoddenDRPRibeiroNFFHassaneinK. Recurrent neck disease in oral cancer.J Oral Maxillofac Surg2002;60:748–53
9.
SchwartzGJMehtaRHWenigBL. Salvage treatment for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.Head Neck2000;22:34–41
10.
GoodwinWJJr. Salvage surgery for patients with recurrence squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: When do the ends justify the means?Laryngoscope2000;110(Suppl.93):1–18
11.
GreeneFLPageDLFlemingID. AJCC cancer staging manual.6th ed.Chicago, IL: Springer; 2002. p. 17–45
12.
ChenIHChangJTLiaoCT. Prognostic significance of EGFR and Her-2 in oral cavity cancer in betel quid prevalent area.Br J Cancer2003;89:681–6
13.
ChenYKHuangHCLinLM. Primary oral squamous cell carcinoma: an analysis of 703 cases in southern Taiwan.Oral Oncol1999;35:173–9
14.
Goncalves AgraIMLopes CarvalhoASamsonovski UlbrichF. Prognostic factors in salvage surgery for recurrent oral and oropharyngeal cancer.Head Neck2006;28:107–13
15.
MeyzaJWTowpikE. Surgical and cryosurgical salvage of oral and oropharyngeal cancer recurring after radical radiotherapy.Eur J Surg Oncol1991;17:567–70
16.
LlewellynCDJohnsonNWWarnakulasuriyaKAAS. Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in young people-a comprehensive literature review.Oral Oncol2001;37:401–18
17.
SarkariaJNHarariPM. Oral tongue cancer in young adults less than 40 years of age: rational for aggressive therapy.Head Neck1994;16:107–11
18.
WongLYWeiWILamLK. Salvage of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after primary curative surgery.Head Neck2003;25:953–9
19.
WangCC. To irradiate or not to irradiate.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1994;29:913
