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BMC Cancer

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01-12-2021 | Oral Cancer | Research

Tracking the dropout patients of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with locally advanced oral cavity cancer

Authors: Jin-Ye Fu, Chen-Ping Zhang, Zhi-Yuan Zhang

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Patients with locally advanced oral cavity cancer sometimes stopped treatment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. There are no guidelines of the management for these patients. Before designing clinical trials, we conducted this study to investigate their characteristics, reasons of dropout, and the follow-up information.

Methods

Medical records were consecutively reviewed of patients with locally advanced oral cavity cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy from Jan 2017 to Dec 2019.Variables were compared between patients stopped treating after chemotherapy and completed treatments by student t-test and Chi-square test. Logistic regression model was used to calculate the odd rations of potential predictors of dropout. The dropout patients were followed up for reasons and results of their decision.

Results

A total of 171 patients were included with 23 not undergoing surgery after chemotherapy. The odd ratios of age over 65 and single marital status were 3.11 (95%CI: 1.1, 8.7) and 4.935 (95%CI: 1.5, 16.1), respectively, for the dropout. The median survival of patients without surgery was 7.4 months. Believing that chemotherapy would be effective and being afraid of the consequence of surgery were the main reasons of refusing surgery.

Conclusions

The prognosis was poor of these dropout patients. Symptom relief and fear of surgery were the reasons of dropout. Age and marital status affected their decision. Clinical trials are needed to be designed for these patients.

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Title: Tracking the dropout patients of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with locally advanced oral cavity cancer
Authors: Jin-Ye Fu
Chen-Ping Zhang
Zhi-Yuan Zhang
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Oral Cancer
Cytostatic Therapy
Oral Cavity Carcinoma
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08420-4

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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