Comparison of Definitive Radiotherapy-Based Treatment and Surgical-Based Treatment for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Background: Head and neck soft-tissue sarcomas are rare but aggressive malignancies. Definitive radiotherapy might be an alternative treatment choice in patients unfit for surgery with preservation of organ function and facial morphology. Whether definitive radiotherapy is comparable with surgery has not been fully demonstrated. In this study, we compared the prognosis of patients with radiotherapy-based treatment and with surgery-based treatment. Methods: From May 2014 to February 2021, patients with locally advanced head and neck soft-tissue sarcoma treated with either definitive radiotherapy-based treatment or radical surgery-based treatment were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical outcomes including tumor response, patients' survival and acute treatment-related toxicities were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank test were used to compare survival data. Cox regression analysis was used to explore prognostic factors. Results: A total of 24 patients (12 males and 12 females, 3 to 61 years old) were eligible for analysis. The median follow-up time was 49 (range: 6-96) months. In 16 patients receiving definitive radiotherapy-based treatment, 6 reached complete response. The survival curve showed that there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), loco-regional relapse-free survival (LRRFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups of patients (p = 0.35, p = 0.24, p = 0.48, p = 0.1, respectively). COX regression analysis showed that older age was associated with poor DMFS. There was no significant difference in grade 3-4 toxicities between the two groups. Conclusions: In cases of contradictions to surgery, refusal to surgery or failure to complete resection, chemoradiotherapy might be an alternative treatment option.

Automated summary

This study compared the prognosis of patients with head and neck soft-tissue sarcoma treated with radiotherapy-based treatment versus surgery-based treatment. The results showed no significant difference in overall survival, distant metastasis-free survival, loco-regional relapse-free survival, and progression-free survival between the two groups. Older age was associated with poorer distant metastasis-free survival. Chemoradiotherapy may be an alternative treatment option for patients who are ineligible for surgery, refuse surgery, or have failed surgery.