Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40264145›Full record

ArticleRadiation oncology (London, England)2025

Radiotherapy outcomes and risk factors for young patients with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinomas: a matched-pair analysis.

Jiadai Zou, Alexander Rühle, Henning Schäfer, Andreas Dietz, Gunnar Wichmann, Thomas Kuhnt, Anca-L Grosu, Nils H Nicolay

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 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

8 authors.

Jiadai ZouDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Stephanstr. 9a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Alexander RühleDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Stephanstr. 9a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Henning SchäferDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Andreas DietzComprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Gunnar WichmannComprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Partner Site Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Thomas KuhntDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Stephanstr. 9a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Anca-L GrosuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Nils H NicolayDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Stephanstr. 9a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. nils.nicolay@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHead-and-neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) exhibit significant variations in incidence and outcomes across age groups. There is conflicting data on the oncological outcomes of younger HNSCC patients ≤ 45 years. This study analyzed clinical characteristics, treatment-related toxicities and survival rates of young HNSCC patients treated with (chemo)radiotherapy.

methodsHNSCC patients ≤ 45 years treated with radiotherapy between 2009 and 2021 at two large cancer centers were analyzed and matched to a patient cohort > 45 years based on TNM and tumor localization. Overall (OS), progression-free (PFS) and metastasis-free (DMFS) survival and locoregional control (LRC) were compared and treatment-related toxicities were assessed.

results99 patients were included in this analysis. Median OS of the young HNSCC cohort was 63 months. Daily alcohol consumption was identified as a key risk factor for reduced OS in the multivariate analysis. OS was similar in the young cohort compared to older patients, although the excess mortality risk compared to the sex- and age-matched general population amounted to 59-fold, while it was only 5.9-fold for patients ≥ 45 years. No significant differences were observed in PFS, LRC, or DMFS between age groups. Higher-grade chronic toxicities were moderate in young HNSCC patients.

conclusionsYoung HNSCC patients ≤ 45 years treated with (chemo)radiation have similar rates of oncological survival outcomes compared to older patients. While chronic toxicities from (chemo)radiation are low, further research is needed to explore the long-term quality-of-life.

Indexed as

ChemoradiotherapyHead and Neck NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMatched-Pair AnalysisMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsSurvival RateYoung AdultChemotherapyHead-and-neck cancerHNSCCRadiotherapyYoung

Identifiers

PMID40264145
PMCPMC12016063

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.