Changing patterns of failure of head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND With the increased use of neoadjuvant therapy for advanced stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, we have observed an apparent change in the pattern of failure from predominantly locoregional sites to distant metastases. We reviewed the patterns of failure in cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx at our institution during the last decade. OBJECTIVE To determine whether there has been a significant change in the patterns of recurrence from the historical locoregional failure to distant sites, and whether this change is associated with the increased use of multimodality therapy. METHODS We reviewed cancer registry data on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck diagnosed between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1999. Sites included the oral cavity and oropharynx (including the tongue, floor of mouth, retromolar trigone, gingiva, tonsil, and lip) and larynx. RESULTS Among 432 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 280 (65%) had oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers, and 152 (35%) had laryngeal cancers. Overall, 19% developed locoregional recurrence, and 8% developed distant failure. Although locoregional failure for oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma decreased from 26% to 16% from 1988-1993 to 1994-1999, distant failure increased significantly from 3% to 8%. During these periods, multimodality therapy was used in 62% of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers, and this rate remained essentially unchanged. For laryngeal cancer, locoregional and distant failure remained stable at 18% and 9%, respectively. In these laryngeal cancers, the use of multimodality therapy decreased from 60% to 46%, but this difference was not statistically significant (P =.43). CONCLUSIONS Although locoregional control in oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers has improved significantly with the use of multimodality therapy, the incidence of distant failure has doubled. In laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, the patterns of failure have not changed significantly.