The role of postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiation in pT1-2N1M0 oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) are indicated for patients with advanced oral cancer. However, the benefits for pT1-2N1 disease without adverse pathological features are controversial. Methods: This retrospective study using the Taiwan Cancer Registry database included patients with pT1-2N1 oral cancer from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017. Overall survival was analyzed in patients receiving surgery alone, PORT, or CCRT. Results: Among the 862 patients, the five-year overall survival rate in patients receiving surgery alone, PORT, and CCRT was 62.2%, 58.7%, and 71.1% (P = 0.03), respectively. CCRT was associated with longer survival than PORT (P = 0.008). Survival in patients with pT2 disease was significantly higher with CCRT than PORT (P = 0.001), but no difference was observed in pT1 disease. Conclusion: CCRT demonstrated a favorable impact on survival outcomes in patients diagnosed with pT2N1 oral cancer when compared to PORT. However, no significant survival benefits were observed for patients with pT1 disease.