Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39787983›Full record

ArticleOral oncology2025

Pathologic responses and clinical outcomes with neoadjuvant doublet chemotherapy for newly diagnosed, surgically-resectable p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer.

Alisha R Pershad, Tatiana Ferraro, Timothy B Shaver, Esther Lee, Leyn B Shakhtour, Maxwell Madani, Punam G Thakkar, Clint T Allen, Shabnam Samankan, Faysal Haroun and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Oral oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Alisha R PershadDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: apershad@gwmail.gwu.edu.
Tatiana FerraroDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: tferraro@mfa.gwu.edu.
Timothy B ShaverDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: timshaver11@gwu.edu.
Esther LeeDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: estlee@email.gwu.edu.
Leyn B ShakhtourDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: lshakhtour@gwmail.gwu.edu.
Maxwell MadaniDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: mmadani@gwmail.gwu.edu.
Punam G ThakkarDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: pthakkar@mfa.gwu.edu.
Clint T AllenHead and Neck Section, Surgical Oncology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: clint.allen@nih.gov.
Shabnam SamankanDepartment of Pathology, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: shsamankan@mfa.gwu.edu.
Faysal HarounDivision of Hematology and Oncology, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: faharoun@mfa.gwu.edu.
Joseph F GoodmanDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: jfgoodman@gmail.com.
Arjun S JoshiDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA. Electronic address: ajoshi@mfa.gwu.edu.

Funding

Characterization and Enhancement of Anti-Tumor Immune Responses in Head and Neck CancerZIADC000087 · NIDCD · NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS · PI ALLEN, CLINT · 2015 to 2022
$13.5M
Intramural NIH HHS ZIA DC000087
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe feasibility and outcomes of neoadjuvant doublet chemotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel followed by surgical resection of residual disease (NAC + S) for patients with newly diagnosed, resectable p16 positive (+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been reported from a single institution. Here, we report pathologic responses, need for adjuvant treatment and recurrence-free survival (RFS) following this treatment from a second large academic institution.

methodsA retrospective cohort study of patients with p16 + OPSCC receiving NAC + S and risk-adjusted adjuvant treatment between January 2017 and March 2024 was performed.

resultsOf the 76 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 43 (57%) patients developed clinical-to-pathologic downstaging; all remaining patients had clinical and pathologic stage I disease (AJCC 8th). Thirty-seven (49%) patients experienced complete pathologic response (pCR). Sixty-four (89%) patients avoided adjuvant treatment. Two-year overall survival (OS) and RFS were 93.7% and 75.4%, respectively. Development of a pCR did not statistically associate with improved RFS, but only 8 patients developed disease relapse. Of the 8 (11%) patients that recurred, 3 had developed a pCR and 5 had not.

conclusionsUsing risk-adjusted criteria from pathologic analysis, a high proportion of patients with newly diagnosed, resectable p16 + OPSCC appear to be able to avoid adjuvant treatment following the NAC + S treatment regimen without sacrificing disease control. Prospective clinical study of the NAC + S treatment strategy with clearly defined inclusion and adjuvant treatment criteria is warranted to determine whether this approach strategy can be safely offered to patients that wish to minimize the need for adjuvant radiation.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16Neoadjuvant TherapyOropharyngeal NeoplasmsAdultAgedCisplatinDocetaxelFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeCisplatinCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16DocetaxelDe-escalationNeoadjuvant chemotherapyOropharynx cancerTransoral surgery

Identifiers

PMID39787983
PMCPMC12329431

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.