RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether routinary walking activity and the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are associated with outcomes in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 64 patients diagnosed with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck and treated with immunotherapy (Programmed Death-1 and Programmed Death-ligand-1 proteins inhibitors) at two tertiary centers. We compared a group that performed uninterrupted physical activity for 1 h per day and controls who performed no activity. The derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was calculated as follows: [neutrophils / (leukocytes - neutrophils)]. Progression-free survival and overall survival were evaluated. RESULTS: We included 28 (44%) and 36 (56%) patients in the activity and non-activity groups, respectively. Patient characteristics, treatment details, and tumor Programmed Death-ligand-1 expression were not associated with either progression-free survival or overall survival. Physical activity was an independent beneficial factor for progression-free survival (p < 0.001) and overall survival (p < 0.001). By contrast, a derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.5 was an independent beneficial factor for overall survival (p = 0.013), but not for progression-free survival (p = 0.328). CONCLUSIONS: Walking one hour per day and having a high proportion of lymphocytes to neutrophiles (expressed as a low derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) independently predict a better prognosis in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck treated with immunotherapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance after the electrochemotherapy treatment for local therapy of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of head-and-neck tumors and malignant melanoma refractory to standard therapies, mainly in neck metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma. And, to evaluate the relation of this response according to the skin reaction (healing with ulcer or dry crust). METHODS: prospective pase II, observational clinical study of 56 patients with metastases of head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (n=13), papillary thyroid carcinoma (n=4), adenoid cystic carcinoma of parotid gland (n=1) or malignant melanoma (n=37, 5 in head). Patients were treated by electrochemotherapy (application of electrical pulses into the tumor) after the administration of a single intravenous dose of bleomycin. Kaplan-Meier curves were performed. The statistical significance was evaluated using log-rank test; p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Overall clinical response was observed in 47 patients (84%). Local side effects were mild in all the patients. Ten patients (76.9%) with neck metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma had some degree of response, but only in one was complete. Patients even with only partial response had a higher overall survival than patients without response (p= 0.02). Most of the patients with squamous cell carcinoma had diminution of pain and anxiety. Response rate and overall survival was higher in MM patients (86.5%) than in squamous cell cancer patients (76.9%) (p= 0.043). The healing process (dry crust/ulcer) was not associated with the overall survival (p= 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Electrochemotherapy is associated a higher overall survival and diminution of pain and anxiety. Therefore, it is an option as palliative treatment for patients with neck metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma refractory to other therapies or even as a concomitant treatment with newer immunotherapies. The type of healing of the surgical wound could not be associated with a higher rate of response or survival. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Assuntos

Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Eletroquimioterapia , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço , Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutâneas , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide , Humanos , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/efeitos adversos , Bleomicina/uso terapêutico , Bleomicina/efeitos adversos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patologia , Eletroquimioterapia/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/tratamento farmacológico , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Melanoma/induzido quimicamente , Dor/induzido quimicamente , Dor/tratamento farmacológico , Cuidados Paliativos , Estudos Prospectivos , Neoplasias Cutâneas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Cutâneas/patologia , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/etiologia , Resultado do Tratamento , Úlcera/induzido quimicamente , Úlcera/tratamento farmacológico

RESUMO

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance after the electrochemotherapy treatment for local therapy of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of head-and-neck tumors and malignant melanoma refractory to standard therapies, mainly in neck metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma. And, to evaluate the relation of this response according to the skin reaction (healing with ulcer or dry crust). Methods prospective pase II, observational clinical study of 56 patients with metastases of head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (n = 13), papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 4), adenoid cystic carcinoma of parotid gland (n = 1) or malignant melanoma (n = 37, 5 in head). Patients were treated by electrochemotherapy (application of electrical pulses into the tumor) after the administration of a single intravenous dose of bleomycin. Kaplan-Meier curves were performed. The statistical significance was evaluated using log-rank test; p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results Overall clinical response was observed in 47 patients (84%). Local side effects were mild in all the patients. Ten patients (76.9%) with neck metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma had some degree of response, but only in one was complete. Patients even with only partial response had a higher overall survival than patients without response (p = 0.02). Most of the patients with squamous cell carcinoma had diminution of pain and anxiety. Response rate and overall survival was higher in MM patients (86.5%) than in squamous cell cancer patients (76.9%) (p = 0.043). The healing process (dry crust/ulcer) was not associated with the overall survival (p = 0.86). Conclusions Electrochemotherapy is associated a higher overall survival and diminution of pain and anxiety. Therefore, it is an option as palliative treatment for patients with neck metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma refractory to other therapies or even as a concomitant treatment with newer immunotherapies. The type of healing of the surgical wound could not be associated with a higher rate of response or survival. Level of evidence III.