AUTHOR=Stelmes Jean-Jacques , Gregoire Vincent , Poorten Vincent Vander , Golusiñski Wojciech , Szewczyk Mateusz , Jones Terry , Ansarin Mohssen , Broglie Martina A. , Giger Roland , Klussmann Jens Peter , Evans Mererid , Bourhis Jean , Leemans C. René , Spriano Giuseppe , Dietz Andreas , Hunter Keith , Zimmermann Frank , Tinhofer Ingeborg , Patterson Joanne M. , Quaglini Silvana , Govaerts Anne-Sophie , Fortpied Catherine , Simon Christian TITLE=Organ Preservation and Late Functional Outcome in Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: Rationale of EORTC 1420, the “Best of” Trial JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.00999 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2019.00999 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

Dysphagia represents one of the most serious adverse events after curative-intent treatments with a tremendous impact on quality of life in patients with head and neck cancers. Novel surgical and radiation therapy techniques have been developed to better preserve swallowing function, while not negatively influencing local control and/or overall survival. This review focuses on the current literature of swallowing outcomes after curative treatment strategies. Available results from recent studies relevant to this topic are presented, demonstrating the potential role of new treatment modalities for early- and intermediate-stage oropharyngeal cancers. Based on this, we present the rationale and design of the currently active EORTC 1420 “Best of” trial, and highlight the potential of this study to help prioritizing either surgery- or radiation-based treatment modalities for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer in the future.