Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery for HPV‐associated locoregionally advanced oropharynx cancer

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NAC + S), a paradigm based on systemic escalation coupled with surgery-based de-escalation, is under investigation for treatment of HPV-associated oropharynx cancer (OPC). METHODS: Prospective cohort of patients with non-metastatic, p16 positive OPC enrolled in a clinical trial of NAC + S was compared to a historic cohort of patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) to compare disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were treated with NAC + S and 142 with CCRT. Stage-matched patients undergoing CCRT had higher frequency of smoking and alcohol consumption. 5-year DFS in the NAC + S group was 96.1% (95% CI 90.8-100) compared to 67.6% (95% CI 50.7-84.5) for CCRT (P = .01). At 12 months from treatment, 24.5% of patients undergoing CCRT and none of the patients in the NAC + S were feeding tube dependent (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: NAC + S may be a novel approach for HPV-associated OPC as it provides lower feeding tube dependence and improved survival compared to stage-matched patients undergoing CCRT.