BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The treatment and prognosis of gingival carcinoma, a common oral carcinoma, have seldom been reported. This study was to explore appropriate therapies and analyze prognostic factors of gingival carcinoma. METHODS: Clinical data of 116 gingival carcinoma patients, treated at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from 1992 to 2003, were analyzed. Survival analyses were performed for patients who received surgery, radiotherapy, or surgery combined with chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy. The patients had been followed up for more than 3 years. RESULTS: One hundred patients received radical therapy. The overall 3-and 5-year survival rates were 52.7% and 41.8%. The 5-year survival rates were 50.3% in surgery alone group and 49.0% in combined treatment group, without significant difference. The 5-year survival rate of radiotherapy alone group was only 20.0%. For advanced gingival carcinoma, the recurrence rate was much lower in combined treatment group than in surgery alone group. Clinical stage and surgical margin status were predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery alone is appropriate for gingival carcinoma patients at an early stage; surgery combined with chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy is an adequate treatment for patients at advanced stages. Clinical stage and surgical margin status are important prognostic factors.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The treatment and prognosis of gingival carcinoma, a common oral carcinoma, have seldom been reported. This study was to explore appropriate therapies and analyze prognostic factors of gingival carcinoma. METHODS: Clinical data of 116 gingival carcinomapatients, treated at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from 1992 to 2003, were analyzed. Survival analyses were performed for patients who received surgery, radiotherapy, or surgery combined with chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy. The patients had been followed up for more than 3 years. RESULTS: One hundred patients received radical therapy. The overall 3-and 5-year survival rates were 52.7% and 41.8%. The 5-year survival rates were 50.3% in surgery alone group and 49.0% in combined treatment group, without significant difference. The 5-year survival rate of radiotherapy alone group was only 20.0%. For advanced gingival carcinoma, the recurrence rate was much lower in combined treatment group than in surgery alone group. Clinical stage and surgical margin status were predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery alone is appropriate for gingival carcinomapatients at an early stage; surgery combined with chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy is an adequate treatment for patients at advanced stages. Clinical stage and surgical margin status are important prognostic factors.