Induction Chemotherapy for the Individualized Treatment of Hypopharyngeal Cancer with Oesophageal Invasion: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the potential for induction chemotherapy to be an indicator for the management of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma with cervical oesophageal invasion.Methods: Sixty-eight patients (admitted to our department between February 2003 and November 2016) with stage IVB hypopharyngeal cancer with cervical oesophageal invasion were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the treatment they selected following an explanation they received on the different treatments. Group A patients received induction chemotherapy and had (1) complete or partial remission following chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy or (2) stable disease following chemotherapy combined with surgery. Group B patients underwent surgery and received adjuvant radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy following surgery. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method, differences between the two groups were tested using the log-rank test, and the laryngeal and oesophageal retention rates were compared using the cross-tabulation test. Results: The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of patients in Group A were 22.86% and 11.43%, respectively; in Group B, the rates were 24.25% and 6.06%, respectively (P > 0.05 for all). The laryngeal retention rates in Group A and B patients were 40% and 0%, respectively, whereas the oesophageal retention rates in Group A and B patients were 74.3% and 27.3%, respectively (P < 0.01 for all). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (Group A: 8.6%, Group B: 12.1%, P > 0.05). Conclusions: For patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer with cervical oesophageal invasion, induction chemotherapy could be the appropriate first choice for individualized treatment to ensure laryngeal and oesophageal cancer preservation.