Is precision medicine the solution to improve organ preservation in laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer? A position paper by the Preserve Research Group

Abstract

In locally advanced (LA) laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LHSCC), larynx preservation (LP) strategies aim at the cure of the disease while preserving a functional larynx, thus avoiding total laryngectomy and the associated impact on the quality of life. In the last decades, apart from transoral and open-neck organ preservation approaches, several non-surgical regimens have been investigated: radiotherapy alone, alternate, concurrent or sequential chemoradiation, and bioradiotherapy. Despite major progress, the identification of reliable and effective predictors for treatment response remains a clinical challenge. This review examines the current state of LP in LA-LHSCC and the need for predictive factors, highlighting the importance of the PRESERVE trial in addressing this gap. The PRESERVE trial represents a pivotal initiative aimed at finding the optimal therapy for laryngeal preservation specific to each patient through a retrospective analysis of data from previous LP trials and prospectively validating findings. The goal of the PRESERVE trial is to develop a comprehensive predictive classifier that integrates clinical, molecular, and multi-omics data, thereby enhancing the precision and efficacy of patient selection for LP protocols.

Keywords: chemotherapy; head and neck; hypopharynx; larynx; organ preservation; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma.