Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40050916›Full record

ArticleRadiation oncology (London, England)2025

Survival analysis of patients with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with metastasis-directed radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Peng Xu, Dongmei Liu, Jie Zhou, Zhengyi Tang, Shuo Wang, Yecai Huang, Mei Feng, Shun Lu, Jinyi Lang, Lucia Clara Orlandini

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Radiation oncology (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

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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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

10 authors.

Peng XuSchool of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Dongmei LiuSchool of Clinical Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Jie ZhouSchool of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Zhengyi TangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Shuo WangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Yecai HuangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Mei FengDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Shun LuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Jinyi LangSchool of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. langjy610@163.com.
Lucia Clara OrlandiniDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.

Funding

Sichuan Province Science and Technology Program 2023NSFSC1446Special Funding for Postdoctoral Research Projects in Sichuan Province TB2022090
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveImmunotherapy combined with chemotherapy is currently the first-line treatment for metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aims to evaluate whether adding metastasis-directed radiotherapy (MDRT) to immunotherapy and chemotherapy could improve the survival rate of patients with metastatic HNSCC. MATERIALS AND

methodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with HNSCC who developed distant metastases after curative treatment. Systemic treatment was determined by the multidisciplinary team, with a programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor combined with chemotherapy as the primary approach. The feasibility of radiotherapy was evaluated by clinical and imaging examinations. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) was used to deliver different doses according to the number and location of metastatic lesions. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival, and Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between clinical factors and survival outcomes.

resultsFrom January 2018 to June 2023, a total of 94 patients with 164 metastatic sites were included for the analysis. The most common primary tumor was the nasopharynx (77.7%), with the lung being the most frequent site of metastasis (46.8%), followed by bone (37.2%). Radiotherapy was administered to 276 metastatic lesions, with a median dose of 52.3 Gy (range: 24-60 Gy). The median overall survival (OS) was 43.0 months (range: 20.2-65.8). The OS rates at 2 and 5 years were 70.1% (95% CI, 59.7-80.5%) and 30.1% (95%CI 11.7-48.5%), respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the number of metastases and the location of the primary tumor were significantly associated with OS.

conclusionsIn patients with metastatic HNSCC, MDRT combined with immunotherapy and chemotherapy can effectively improve local control and OS. These findings warrant further validation through prospective clinical trials.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsImmunotherapySquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCombined Modality TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRadiosurgeryRetrospective StudiesSurvival AnalysisSurvival RateHead and neck squamous cell carcinomaMDRTMetastasis-directed radiotherapyMetastaticPD-1 inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID40050916
PMCPMC11887223

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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.