Epidemiologic Findings of Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (LA-SCCHN) in a German Liquid Biopsy Database: A Feasibility Analysis

OBJECTIVES: Squamous cell carcinoma, a prevalent form of head and neck cancer affecting areas like the oral cavity and larynx, often presents at locally advanced stages. Liquid biopsy, offering monitoring through the detection of tumor DNA in body fluids, presents a promising avenue for enhancing disease understanding in real-world settings. This analysis aimed to show epidemiological characteristics of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN) patients in a German liquid biopsy database and to evaluate the potential of the database for future usage in Real-World Evidence research.

METHODS: We descriptively analyzed a cohort of LA-SCCHN patients identified within the Indivumed Services Liquid Biopsy Biobank in terms of epidemiologic parameters, covering the period from 2016 to 2022. Patient samples were included in the database after patients were tested and before start of chemotherapy.

RESULTS: 97 eligible LA-SCCHN patients out of 25,026 patients were identified, with a 27.8% female representation and an average age of 60.9 years (SD: 9.0). Tumor locations were oral cavity (41.2%), oropharynx (29.9%), hypopharynx (18.6%) and larynx (10.3%). Most common treatments were Cisplatin (58.8%), followed by the combination of 5-FU + Cisplatin + Docetaxel (25.8%), and Cetuximab (7.2%). Information regarding TNM staging, morphology, height, weight, and treatment dosage was available. Mutation testing was infrequent, reflecting current treatment protocols.

CONCLUSIONS: Liquid biopsy databases present a valuable complement in Real-World Data analysis. Identifying actionable insights about the dynamics of patient characteristics, treatments and mutations may lead to targeted therapies, potentially improving patient outcomes. Future research should therefore leverage this dataset to expand the scientific understanding, ultimately aiding in personalized treatment strategies. Lack of prior therapy information, such as radiotherapy and surgery, should be considered for interpretation of this dataset. Furthermore, representativeness of these data for the overall LA SCCHN patient population in Germany is limited.