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Influence of tumor volume on survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

  • Original Article - Cancer Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The TNM classification is used to assess cancers of the oral cavity, and advancements in imaging techniques have revealed clear variations in tumor volume at presentation. This study therefore aimed to clarify whether preoperative imaging, with exact measurements of the tumor, could affect post-surgery survival after controlling for demographic, clinical, and tumor characteristics.

Methods

We included 437 patients with histologically confirmed, stage T1–4, N1–3, M0, invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Participants were assessed for recurrence every 3 months for the first 2 years, every 6 months for another 2 years, and annually thereafter; routine computed tomography was performed annually. Associations were determined using the Kaplan–Meier estimator, univariate log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

The mean survival of all patients was 68.1 ± 48.2 months. The 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 82.2 and 66.7 %, respectively. The mean primary tumor volume was 7.14 cm3 with a range of 1.3–24.21 cm3. The ROC curve and Youden Index analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff volume was between ≤5.9 and ≤18.3 cm3 for three different volume groups (p < 0.0001). Large tumor volume was associated with a significantly poorer overall survival (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Tumor volume was significantly associated with the overall survival of patients. This has both prognostic and reconstructive implications that will affect health-related quality of life. In addition, this will inform surgical planning and the allocation of resources.

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Acknowledgments

All persons who have contributed to the study are listed as co-authors. The study was not funded.

Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Mücke, Lucas M. Ritschl, Klaus-Dietrich Wolff, Marco R. Kesting & Denys J. Loeffelbein

  2. Leeds Teaching Hospitals and St James Institute of Oncology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK

    Thomas Mücke, David A. Mitchell & Anastasios Kanatas

  3. Institute of Pathology, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Andrea Tannapfel

Authors
  1. Thomas Mücke
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  2. David A. Mitchell
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  3. Lucas M. Ritschl
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  4. Andrea Tannapfel
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  5. Klaus-Dietrich Wolff
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  6. Marco R. Kesting
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  7. Denys J. Loeffelbein
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  8. Anastasios Kanatas
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Correspondence to Thomas Mücke.

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Mücke, T., Mitchell, D.A., Ritschl, L.M. et al. Influence of tumor volume on survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 141, 1007–1011 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-014-1881-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-014-1881-2

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