Treatment of Oropharyngeal Cancer Grown Into Nearby Tissues or Spread to Neck Lymph Nodes
Clinical Scenario
This protocol applies to oropharyngeal cancers — arising in the back of the tongue, soft palate, or tonsils — that have grown into nearby tissues and/or have spread to nearby lymph nodes in the neck. These are larger, locally advanced tumours.
Which Patients Fit This Scenario
Applicable stages differ based on p16/HPV tumour status:
| p16 / HPV Status |
Applicable Stages |
| p16/HPV-negative |
Stage III, IVA, or IVB |
| p16/HPV-positive |
Stage I, II, or III |
Treatment Approach
When cancer remains after an initial course of treatment, surgical removal of the residual disease may be part of the management plan. The full structured approach — including sequencing, criteria, and all available options — is contained in the complete protocol.
References
- These are larger cancers in the back of the tongue, soft palate, and tonsils that have grown into nearby tissues, and/or have spread to nearby lymph nodes in the neck.
- In general, this includes most stage III, IVA, and IVB p16/HPV-negative cancers and most stage I, II, and III p16/HPV-positive cancers in the TNM system.
- Any cancer that is still present after chemoradiation is often removed with surgery.
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