Retrospective study of survival in human papillomavirus-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with primary surgery and associated prognostic factors.

Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is an aggressive malignancy which has been investigated for decades and reported highly associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, yet there is no consensus reached on the optimal treatment paradigm. The relatively lower prevalence of HPV in China makes it important to evaluate the outcomes of HPV-negative OPSCC.

Purpose: Our study was carried out in an attempt to evaluate the outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated with primary surgery and identify the associated prognostic factors.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of the primary surgically treated HPV-negative OPSCC cases at our institution between 2008 and 2013. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Prognostic factors of outcomes were investigated by uni- and multivariate analyses.

Results: In this study, neck metastasis rate was 61.3%. Level II nodes were the most vulnerable. The 3-year disease-specific survival, overall survival, and disease-free survival rates were 76.7%, 75.6%, and 62.8%, respectively. Forearm free flaps were the most commonly utilized in the reconstructions. A multivariate analysis indicated that N stage and adjuvant radiotherapy were predictive factors for 3-year disease-specific survival.

Conclusion: The outcomes of the surgical treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were acceptable, and N-stage, adjuvant radiotherapy were identified as prognostic factors.