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The Role of Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Management of HPV Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • Head and Neck Cancers (EY Hanna, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is on the rise. This is largely due to the rapid increase in HPV positive OPSCC, which has been shown to confer a survival advantage. HPV negative OPSCC, however, has a more aggressive tumor biology and is a challenge to treat with standard current therapies. Chemoradiation has demonstrated poor locoregional control in HPV negative OPSCC, and open surgeries are associated with high morbidity. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has been proposed as an option to both intensify treatment and decrease surgical morbidity for patients with HPV negative OPSCC. TORS can be utilized as a primary treatment or in persistent, recurrent, or second primary OPSCC. There is emerging data showing improved functional outcomes with TORS versus open surgery or chemoradiation. Unfortunately, there have been no randomized trials comparing TORS to chemoradiation in HPV negative OPSCC. This article will review utility of TORS for HPV negative OPSCC.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, National Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Dr, San Deigo, CA, 92134, USA

    Ryan Sload

  2. Department Head and Neck Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, Unit 1445, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Natalie Silver & Neil D. Gross

  3. Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Basit Abjul Jawad

Authors
  1. Ryan Sload
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  2. Natalie Silver
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  4. Neil D. Gross
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Correspondence to Neil D. Gross.

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Conflict of Interest

Ryan Sload declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Natalie Silver declares that she has no conflict of interest.

A. Basit Jawad declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Neil D. Gross has served as an unpaid scientific advisor for both MedRobotics and Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Head and Neck Cancers

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Sload, R., Silver, N., Jawad, B.A. et al. The Role of Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Management of HPV Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Curr Oncol Rep 18, 53 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-016-0541-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-016-0541-x

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