Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41345688›Full record

ArticleRadiation oncology (London, England)2025

Sex-based differences in patients with locally advanced pharyngeal and laryngeal SCC treated with definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy.

Linda Agolli, Luise Reinhard, Ahmed Gawish, Christine Langer, Christoph Arens, Gabriele A Krombach, Sebastian Harth, Leon Wendrich, Ann-Katrin Exeli, Stefan Gattenlöhner and 2 more

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 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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.

Linda AgolliDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen-Marburg University Hospital, 35392, Giessen, Germany. linda.agolli@radiol.med.uni-giessen.de.
Luise ReinhardDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen-Marburg University Hospital, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Ahmed GawishDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg University Hospital, Marburg, Germany.
Christine LangerDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen University Hospital, Giessen, Germany.
Christoph ArensDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen University Hospital, Giessen, Germany.
Gabriele A KrombachDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen University Hospital , Giessen, Germany.
Sebastian HarthDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen University Hospital , Giessen, Germany.
Leon WendrichDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen-Marburg University Hospital, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Ann-Katrin ExeliDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen-Marburg University Hospital, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Stefan GattenlöhnerInstitute of Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen University Hospital, Giessen, Germany.
Sebastian AdebergDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg University Hospital, Marburg, Germany.
Daniel HabermehlDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen-Marburg University Hospital, 35392, Giessen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo evaluate sex-based differences in survival outcomes, toxicity, and patterns of local recurrence in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT).

methodsWe conducted a retrospective review of 309 patients (246 males, 63 females) diagnosed with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx treated with curative-intent RT at our institution between 2016 and 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised histologically confirmed SCC, stage T3/T4 and/or node-positive disease, and complete RT treatment with adequate follow-up. Survival endpoints-overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS)-were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests. Patterns of local failure were classified using an established five-type system: A (central high-dose), B (peripheral high-dose), C (central intermediate- or low-dose), D (peripheral intermediate- or low-dose), and E (extraneous dose). Treatment-related toxicity was also compared between sexes.

resultsNo significant differences in OS, PFS, or MFS were found between male and female patients across all treatment subgroups. Log rank test did not identify any significant prognostic factor for survival and local recurrence. However, female patients experienced a higher rate of grade ≥ 3 dermatitis (12.7% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.037). Pattern A nodal failures (central high-dose volume) were significantly more common in females (64.3%) than in males (28.8%; p = 0.014), while other recurrence patterns showed no significant sex-based differences.

conclusionSex was not an independent predictor of survival in this cohort of locally advanced HNSCC patients. Nevertheless, the higher rate of severe skin toxicity and nodal failures in females highlights a potential need for sex-adapted radiotherapy strategies and further prospective investigation. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Laryngeal NeoplasmsPharyngeal NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalPrognosisRadiotherapy, AdjuvantRetrospective StudiesSex FactorsSurvival RateHead and neck cancerOutcomeRadiotherapySex-differencesToxicity

Identifiers

PMID41345688
PMCPMC12690892

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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.