Flora Yan1, Brittny N Tillman1, Rajiv I Nijhawan2, Divya Srivastava2, David J Sher3, Vladimir Avkshtol3, Jade Homsi4, Justin A Bishop5, Erin M Wynings1, Rebecca Lee1, Larry L Myers1, Andrew T Day6. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. 2. Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. 4. Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. 5. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. 6. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Andrew.day@utsouthwestern.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Given the rapidly evolving nature of the field, the current state of "high-risk" head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (HNcSCC) is poorly characterized. METHODS: Narrative review of the epidemiology, diagnosis, workup, risk stratification, staging and treatment of high-risk HNcSCC. RESULTS: Clinical and pathologic risk factors for adverse HNcSCC outcomes are nuanced (e.g., immunosuppression and perineural invasion). Frequent changes in adverse prognosticators have outpaced population-based registries and the variables they track, restricting our understanding of the epidemiology of HNcSCC and inhibiting control of the disease. Current heterogeneous staging and risk stratification systems are largely derived from institutional data, compromising their external validity. In the absence of staging system consensus, tumor designations such as "high risk" and "advanced" are variably used and insufficiently precise to guide management. Evidence guiding treatment of high-risk HNcSCC with curative intent is also suboptimal. For patients with incurable disease, an array of trials are evaluating the impact of immunotherapy, targeted biologic therapy, and other novel agents. CONCLUSION: Population-based registries that broadly track updated, nuanced, adverse clinicopathologic risk factors, and outcomes are needed to guide development of improved staging systems. Design and development of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in advanced-stage HNcSCC populations are needed to evaluate (1) observation, sentinel lymph node biopsy, or elective neck dissection for management of the cN0 neck, (2) indications for surgery plus adjuvant radiation versus adjuvant chemoradiation, and (3) the role of immunotherapy in treatment with curative intent. Considering these knowledge gaps, the authors explore a potential high-risk HNcSCC treatment framework.
BACKGROUND: Given the rapidly evolving nature of the field, the current state of "high-risk" head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (HNcSCC) is poorly characterized. METHODS: Narrative review of the epidemiology, diagnosis, workup, risk stratification, staging and treatment of high-risk HNcSCC. RESULTS: Clinical and pathologic risk factors for adverse HNcSCC outcomes are nuanced (e.g., immunosuppression and perineural invasion). Frequent changes in adverse prognosticators have outpaced population-based registries and the variables they track, restricting our understanding of the epidemiology of HNcSCC and inhibiting control of the disease. Current heterogeneous staging and risk stratification systems are largely derived from institutional data, compromising their external validity. In the absence of staging system consensus, tumor designations such as "high risk" and "advanced" are variably used and insufficiently precise to guide management. Evidence guiding treatment of high-risk HNcSCC with curative intent is also suboptimal. For patients with incurable disease, an array of trials are evaluating the impact of immunotherapy, targeted biologic therapy, and other novel agents. CONCLUSION: Population-based registries that broadly track updated, nuanced, adverse clinicopathologic risk factors, and outcomes are needed to guide development of improved staging systems. Design and development of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in advanced-stage HNcSCC populations are needed to evaluate (1) observation, sentinel lymph node biopsy, or elective neck dissection for management of the cN0 neck, (2) indications for surgery plus adjuvant radiation versus adjuvant chemoradiation, and (3) the role of immunotherapy in treatment with curative intent. Considering these knowledge gaps, the authors explore a potential high-risk HNcSCC treatment framework.
Authors: Howard W Rogers; Martin A Weinstock; Ashlynne R Harris; Michael R Hinckley; Steven R Feldman; Alan B Fleischer; Brett M Coldiron Journal: Arch Dermatol Date: 2010-03
Authors: Arielle N B Kauvar; Christopher J Arpey; George Hruza; Suzanne M Olbricht; Richard Bennett; Bassel H Mahmoud Journal: Dermatol Surg Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 3.398