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Late recurrence from salivary gland cancer

When does “cure” mean cure?

  1. Allen M. Chen MD1,†,*,
  2. Joaquin Garcia MD2,
  3. Phillip J. Granchi MD1,
  4. Jessica Johnson BS3,
  5. David W. Eisele MD4

Article first published online: 15 NOV 2007

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.23165

Issue

Cancer

Cancer

Volume 112, Issue 2, pages 340–344, 15 January 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Chen, A. M., Garcia, J., Granchi, P. J., Johnson, J. and Eisele, D. W. (2008), Late recurrence from salivary gland cancer. Cancer, 112: 340–344. doi: 10.1002/cncr.23165

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California

  2. 2

    Department of Pathology, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California

  3. 3

    Tumor Registry, Mount Zion Hospital-University of California at San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California

  4. 4

    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California

  1. †

    Fax: (916) 703-5069.

*Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California at Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 4 JAN 2008
  2. Article first published online: 15 NOV 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 3 OCT 2007
  4. Manuscript Revised: 1 SEP 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 18 JUN 2007

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Keywords:

  • late recurrence;
  • salivary gland cancer;
  • head and neck;
  • cure

Abstract

BACKGROUND.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the incidence of late recurrences, which were defined as those occurring ≥5 years after initial therapy, among patients treated for salivary gland cancer.

METHODS.

Between 1960 and 2000, 145 patients underwent definitive therapy for localized carcinomas of the salivary glands and were clinically without evidence of disease at 5 years of follow-up. Cumulative probabilities for developing a subsequent late recurrence were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS.

The 10-year and 15-year cumulative probabilities of late recurrence in patients who were free of disease at 5 years were 13% and 18%, respectively. The crude rates of late recurrence by histologic subtype were adenoid cystic carcinoma (26%), mixed malignant tumor (25%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (17%), adenocarcinoma (10%), and acinic cell carcinoma (8%). Sites of late recurrence included distant metastasis (17 patients), local recurrence (8 patients), and regional recurrence (2 patients). The median time to late recurrence was 7.1 years (range, 5.2–23.1 years) from the date of initial surgery. Salvage treatment varied according to location of disease recurrence and initial treatment characteristics. The 15-year estimate of overall survival was 39% for patients who experienced a late recurrence compared with 71% for those who remained free of disease (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS.

A significant proportion of patients who are presumed to be cured of their disease at 5 years after initial treatment for salivary gland cancer will be found to develop late disease recurrence with additional follow-up. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

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