OBJECTIVES

To describe characteristics and treatment patterns amongst locally advanced (LA) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) patients receiving frontline, locoregional treatment.

METHODS

A real-world cross-sectional survey was conducted in France, Germany, UK, Spain, Italy (EU5) and US from April–September 2016. Oncologists with 5-35 years’ experience, making treatment decisions for ≥10 SCCHN patients/month were included. Physicians provided information on their next 8 consecutive SCCHN patients receiving treatment. Descriptive statistics were used.

RESULTS

Physicians (n=236) provided data on 493 LA SCCHN patients (n=405 EU5, n=88 US). Mean patient age was 61.6 years; 80% were male. 36%, 43% and 20% of patients were stage III, stage IVa and stage IVb at diagnosis, respectively. Primary disease site was lip+oral cavity (33% of patients), oropharynx (29% of patients), larynx (19% of patients), hypopharynx (17% of patients) and other (1% of patients). 90% of patients were current/former smokers. At diagnosis, 85% of patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores 0-1.

72% of patients were non-resectable/not eligible for resection at diagnosis (77% in EU5, 49% in US). 80% of EU5 patients and 76% of US patients did not receive surgery (un-resected). 53% of un-resected patients received radiation in the LA setting (58% in EU5, 75% in US).

For un-resected patients, mean ongoing duration of frontline treatment was 2.0 months. 46% of un-resected patients received both chemotherapy and RT in the LA setting (41% EU and 70% US). The most common treatments, either as monotherapy or in combination, for un-resected patients were cisplatin (62%), fluorouracil (50%) and cetuximab (34%).

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of patients diagnosed with LA SCCHN were un-resected with good performance status. However, many frontline treatment regimens did not include CRT, recommended by guidelines. Future studies should evaluate outcomes of current treatments in clinical practice.