15 / 220
Sethugavalar B, Teo MT, Buchan C, et al. Impact of prophylactic gastrostomy or reactive
NG tube upon patient-reported long term swallow function following chemoradiotherapy for
oropharyngeal carcinoma: a matched pair analysis.
Oral Oncol
. 2016; 59:80-85. EBM
level 3..............................................................................................................................147-152
Summary
: This study is a retrospective matched-pair analysis looking at patient-reported long-term
swallow function following chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer in relation
to the use of a prophylactic gastrostomy or reactive nasogastric tube. The authors found that patients
with prophylactic use of a gastrostomy tube had worse long-term swallow function.
VII.
Treatment Modalities Update: Robotic Surgery
Choby GW, Kim J, Ling DC, et al. Transoral robotic surgery alone for oropharyngeal cancer:
quality-of-life outcomes.
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
. 2015; 141(6):499-504. EBM
level 4..............................................................................................................................153-158
Summary
: This is a retrospective cohort of patients treated with primary surgery (transoral robotic
surgery) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma followed by adjuvant therapy if indicated. The
results demonstrate high quality-of-life scores and low gastrostomy tube placement rates.
Kumar B, Cipolla MJ, Old MO, et al. Surgical management of oropharyngeal squamous cell
carcinoma: survival and functional outcomes.
Head Neck
. 2016; 38 Suppl 1:E1794-1802.
EBM level 3....................................................................................................................159-167
Summary
: This is a large case series of surgically managed oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
The authors demonstrated the superiority of the transoral approach over the open approach, and also
delineated novel patient stratifications based on patient and tumor characteristics. Surgery appeared to
negate the negative impact smoking and neck disease typically imparts for oropharyngeal squamous
cell carcinoma patients.
VIII
.
Treatment Modalities Update: Immunotherapy
Andtbacka RH, Agarwala SS, Ollila DW, et al. Cutaneous head and neck melanoma in
OPTiM, a randomized phase 3 trial of talimogene laherparepvec versus granulocyte-
macrophage colony-stimulating factor for the treatment of unresected stage IIIB/IIIC/IV
melanoma.
Head Neck
. 2016; 38(12):1752-1758. EBM level 2..................................168-174
Summary
: This study looks at intralesional injection of unresectable stage IIIB/IIIC/IV melanoma with
the oncolytic virus talimogene laherparepvec. Durable response rate was higher for talimogene
laherparepvec–treated patients than for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor treated
patients (36.1% vs 3.8%;
p
= 5.001).
Yimaer W, Abudouyimu A, Tian Y, et al. Efficacy and safety of vascular endothelial growth
factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer: a meta-
analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Onco Targets Ther
. 2016; 9:1167-1173. EBM
level 1..............................................................................................................................175-181
Summary
: This paper is a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials looking at vascular endothelial
growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.