Clinical outcomes of head and neck cancer patients who undergo resection, but forgo adjuvant therapy

Abstract

Background/Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who underwent resection and refused the recommended adjuvant therapy. Patients and Methods: Locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) and time to progression (TTP) were assessed in HNSCC patients treated with surgery who declined some or all adjuvant therapy (refusal group (RG)) compared to those who received the recommended adjuvant therapy (TG). Results: With a median follow-up of 23 months, the 2-year LRRFS was significantly lower in the 17 patients from the RG compared to the 152 patients from the TG: 23.1% vs. 69%, HR=0.30, 95% confidence incidence (CI)=0.15-0.59; p<0.001. The mean TTP was 12 months in the RG and was not reached in the TG (p<0.001). Conclusion: Patients with HNSCC who declined the recommended adjuvant therapy had a recurrence rate of 50% within a year.