OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify clinical features and treatment patterns in patients with stage III-IVB HNSCC from a reference center in Mexico.

METHODS: This was a retrospective database study assessing all adult patients records with stage III-IVB oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx from Dr. José Eleuterio González University Hospital in Monterrey (Mexico) between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022. Measures of central tendency and dispersion are presented for quantitative variables and frequencies for qualitative variables. Statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS.

RESULTS: A total of 187 patients were included, 83% were males. The mean age was 59.6±11.7 years. The primary cancer location was oral cavity (37%), larynx (37%), oropharynx (18%), and hypopharynx (8%). The following were the stages at diagnosis: stage IVA (55%), followed by stage III (24%) and stage IVB (21%). 102 cases from oral cavity and oropharynx were tested for HPV status, 35% were positive for p16. Mean time from symptoms to diagnosis was 8.1±10.5 months, and from diagnosis to treatment was 2.9±5.5 months. The initial treatment received was surgery (36%), chemoradiotherapy (25%), induction chemotherapy (20%), supportive care (11%), and radiotherapy (8%) most of them in combination schemes. Overall, 114 (61%) of patients treated with any scheme did not reach locoregional control, 71 patients (39%) had locoregional control. Mean time from diagnosis to last follow-up was 17±14.4 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Most patients were males, most of the cases were in IVA stages, of all patients with oral cavity and oropharynx cancer 35% were positive for p16. The most common initial treatments were surgery and chemoradiotherapy, most patients did not reach locoregional control with initial treatment