Strahlentherapie oder Operation bei HPV-positiven Oropharynxkarzinomen? Die ORATOR2-Studie – ein Vergleich von Birnen und Äpfeln

Zusammenfassung

Die ORATOR2-Studie war eine internationale, multizentrische, randomisierte Phase-II-Studie mit dem Ziel, das optimale Therapie-Deeskalationskonzept bei HPV-positiven Oropharynxkarzinomen im Frühstadium (T1–2, N0–2) zu erfassen. Die Patienten (n = 61) wurden entweder mittels transoraler Chirurgie und Neck Dissection behandelt oder mittels intensitätsmodulierter Strahlentherapie. Die Deeskalationskomponente beider Arme war eine Dosisreduktion der primären oder adjuvanten Strahlentherapie. Der primäre Endpunkt war das Gesamtüberleben. Dieses war im Bestrahlungsarm besser, was hauptsächlich durch 3 Todesfälle im Operationsarm bedingt war, hiervon 2 therapieassoziiert. Dies führte zum frühzeitigen Abbruch der Studie. Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie/Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Onkologie warnt davor, die Studienergebnisse als mögliches Entscheidungskriterium für die Therapiewahl von HPV-positiven Oropharynxkarzinomen zu verwenden, angesichts der Schwächen der Studie insbesondere im Operationsarm (Sicherheitsabstand von 10 mm, streng empfohlene Nachresektion bei R1/knappen Resektionsrändern, keine freien/regionalen Transplantate zur Rekonstruktion, kaum Verwendung der Laserchirurgie, hohe Tracheotomierate). Kleine Patientenzahlen, eine sehr selektionierte Patientenkohorte und die kurze Nachbeobachtungszeit schränken die Aussagekraft der Studie weiter ein. Patienten mit HPV-assoziierten Oropharynxkarzinomen sollten aktuell keine deeskalierende (Strahlen-) Therapie außerhalb klinischer Studien erhalten. Bei der Entscheidung zwischen einem chirurgischen oder einem strahlentherapeutischen Vorgehen sollten Patienten nach interdisziplinärer Zustimmung eines Tumorboards über Vor- und Nachteile beider Modalitäten aufgeklärt werden, bis Ergebnisse klinisch relevanter Phase-III-Studien (bspw. EORTC 1420) vorliegen.

Abstract

ORATOR2 was a randomized phase II trial aiming to assess an optimal approach for therapy de-escalation in early (T1-T2, N0-N2) human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC). Radiotherapy (RT) (consisting of a reduced dose of 60 Gy with concurrent weekly cisplatin in N+ patients) was compared to trans-oral surgery (TOS) and neck dissection (ND) (with adjuvant reduced-dose RT depending on pathologic findings) in 61 patients. The primary endpoint, overall survival, favored the radiotherapy approach. This was mainly due to 3 mortality events in the surgery arm (2 surgery-related) which resulted in an early trial termination. The authors, who speak on behalf of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery (working group for oncology) warn to draw conclusions for clinical practice pointing out the main shortages/weaknesses of this trial especially in the surgery arm (at least 1 cm margins, recommending re-operation if not achieved, prohibition of regional or free flaps, high rates of tracheotomy, low rate of TLM). Small patient numbers, a highly selected patient cohort and a short follow-up time further limit this study’s relevance. Therefore, patients with HPV-related OPSCC should not receive de-escalating (radiation) therapy outside of clinical trials. When deciding between a surgical or a radio-therapeutical approach, patients should be informed about the pros and cons of both modalities after interdisciplinary consent in a tumor board, as long as clinical trial results` (e. g. EORTC 1420) are pending.

Schlüsselwörter

ORATOR2 - Oropharynxkarzinome - HPV - Therapiedeeskalation - transorale Chirurgie - TORS - transorale Laserchirurgie

Key words

ORATOR2 - OPSCC - oropharyngeal cancer - HPV - therapy de-escalation - transoral surgery - TORS - transoral laser surgery - TLM

Publication History

Article published online:
01 March 2023

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