Long-term survival in patients with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with metastasis-directed therapy

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to evaluate the outcomes of metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by disease burden with an emphasis on metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) in patients with limited metastatic disease burden. METHODS: In total, 186 patients who developed metastatic disease after definitive therapy for HNSCC were included. Clinically and radiographically apparent metastases were enumerated. Kaplan–Meier methods were used to estimate survival. Cox regression was used to assess the association between clinical variables. RESULTS: Patients with a single metastasis had a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 35% (95% CI 16–54%) in contrast to patients with multiple metastases with a 5-year OS of 4% (95% CI 2–9%). Thirty patients (16.1%) underwent MDT. On multivariable analysis, oral cavity or sinonasal primary (HR 2.22 95% CI 1.16–4.25, p = 0.015; HR 4.88, 95% CI 1.10–21.70, p = 0.037, respectively) were associated with higher risk of death, whereas receipt of MDT (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.17–0.74, p = 0.006) was associated with lower hazard of death. Median subsequent metastasis-free survival and 5-year survival after MDT (n = 30) were estimated at 26.4 months (95% CI: 9.8–54.0) and 31%, (95% CI: 15–48%). CONCLUSIONS: HNSCC patients with limited metastatic disease may derive significant benefit from MDT. Prospective trials evaluating MDT in HNSCC are warranted.