Oropharyngeal cancer diagnosis and treatment in actual clinical practice in the Republic of Bashkortostan: analysis for 2020

Introduction. Th e growing incidence of oropharyngeal cancer is driven by an increase in frequency of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. Th e morbidity pattern of oropharyngeal cancer is area-specific.

Aim. To analyze the oropharyngeal cancer diagnosis and treatment in the Republic of Bashkortostan for 2020.

Materials and methods. Th e authors carried out a 2020 retrospective analysis of the diagnosis and treatment results of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. 79 patients were identified with this diagnosis. 84.8% (67/79) among them were males and 15.2% females (12/79). Th e mean age of the patients was 59.1 years. Th e site of primary tumor was on the oropharynx lateral wall in 37.8% cases (30/79), in the tongue root area — 24.1% (19/79), in the tonsils area — 17.7% (14/79), on the soft palate — 16.5% (13/79), on the oropharynx posterior wall — 3.8% (3/79).

Results. Examination of tumor morphological types revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with various degrees of differentiation in 92.4% cases (73/79), adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland — in 6.3% (5/79) and sarcoma in 1.2% (1/79). 57.5% of 73 patients with SCC (42/73) underwent protein (p16) immunohistochemistry, while 42.5% of the patients (31/73) did not. According to a surrogate marker for HPV, the following results were obtained for 42 patients: p16-positive in 23.8% cases (10/42), p16-negative in 76.2% (32/42). Stage distribution according to TNM-7: stage I — 11.4% (9/79), stage II — 17.7% (14/79), stage III — 36.7% (29/79), stage IV — 46.8% (37/79). Stage distribution according to TNM-8 (patients who underwent p16 immunohistochemistry): stage I — 11.9% (5/42), stage II — 23.8% (10/42), stage III — 19% (8/42), stage IV — 45.2% (19/42). In 2020, 72% of patients (57/79) received definitive treatment, 10.1% (8/79) — palliative care, 15.2% (12/79) — supportive care, and 2.5% (2/79) refused medical treatment.

Discussion. Th e various types of radiation therapy were used as the main defi nitive treatment for patients with oropharyngeal cancer in 69.2% cases (45/65). Only 18.5% of patients (12/65) underwent surgery, 58.3% of which (7/12) received post-surgery radiation therapy.

Conclusion. 57.5% of patients (42/73) were detected with HPV status, 23.8% (10/42) revealed surrogate markers for HPV association. 69.2% of patients (45/65) received radiation therapy as the definitive treatment. 18.5% of patients (12/65) underwent surgery, 58.3% of which (7/12) received postsurgery radiation therapy.

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