De-escalating adjuvant therapy after pathologic complete response in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Chemoradiotherapy benefits only high-risk subgroups.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The optimal adjuvant therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients achieving pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NAIC) remains uncertain. While radiotherapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improve locoregional control, their comparative efficacy and toxicity profiles in this setting are poorly defined.

Methods

Oral SCC patients with pCR post-NAIC were retrospectively enrolled and stratified into RT and CRT groups. Propensity score matching balanced baseline characteristics. Outcomes included 3-year locoregional control (LRC), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Subgroup analyses evaluated treatment effects by radiologic extranodal extension (rENE) and tumor differentiation.

Results

Among 116 patients analyz

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12460139 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature