19 At 5 years, disease-free and overall

survival rates of 87.9% and 92.2% were comparable to data reported for large cohorts treated with EBRT.20 Taylor et al. described a multicenter cohort experience with T1b laryngeal lesions (42 patients treated with EBRT; 21 patients treated with TLM).21 Since involvement of the anterior commissure is often cited as a potential functional risk for patients undergoing TLM (due to anterior scarring and web formation) the data provided in this study are particularly interesting. In addition to oncologic outcomes (local control, organ preservation, disease-free survival and disease-specific Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical survival), the authors also evaluated functional outcomes, specifically voice using the previously validated Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10. Disease-free and overall survival at 2 years for TLM were 88.7% and 94.1%, while for EBRT they were 85.9% and 94.8%, respectively. Although vocalization data were available for less than half of all patients, no significant differences were noted between the two groups.

Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Agrawal et Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical al. reported in 2007 the results from the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) phase II trial (single arm) evaluation TLM followed by EBRT for stage I–III supraglottic tumors.22 Despite its multi-institutional nature, the study only accrued 34 patients over a 4-year period. Disease-free and overall survival at 3 years were estimated at 79% and 88%, respectively. Four patients required temporary tracheostomy prior to the procedure; no patient required permanent tracheostomy; three patients were feeding tube-dependent at last follow-up. One patient required salvage laryngectomy, and two patients required salvage Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical neck dissections. Although a significant improvement over purely retrospective series, none of these studies were randomized. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Given the very disparate mechanism of treatment (EBRT versus TLM), randomized clinical trials addressing this question are unlikely in the current clinical climate. Zhang et al. conducted an analysis in China based on 205 patients treated at a single institution with a mean follow-up of 49 months.23 Most tumors were glottic (70%), and most Vasopressin Receptor patients were reportedly N0 (78%). Approximately

half of all tumors represented Selleck Ibrutinib advanced disease (T3 20%, T4 25%). Surgical treatment of primary lesions consisted of total laryngectomy (n=71), partial laryngectomy or TLM (n=134). TLM or open partial laryngectomy was reserved for patients with T stage less than T3 and was performed routinely only after 2000. No individual survival or functional data were provided for patients treated with TLM, but the study does demonstrate propagation of the technique outside of the initial centers that developed it in the 1970s and 1980s. Pukander et al. similarly reported the Finnish experience with TLM across all stages of laryngeal cancer in 2001.24 Following initiation of TLM as a clinical treatment option, the authors were able to treat 140 patients within a 4-year span.