Prognosis and Failure Patterns of 11q13 Amplified Local Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

ABSTRACT Background Amplification of 11q13 (FGF3/4/19, CCND1) is frequently observed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, there is a lack of research investigating 11q13 amplification as a prognostic marker for patients with locally advanced (LA) HNSCC who undergo postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Materials and Methods This retrospective study included consecutive patients of LA‐HNSCC who underwent radical surgical resection and PORT. The 11q13 amplification was tested by next‐generation Sequencing (NGS) or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match the amplification and wild‐type groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression. Recurrence patterns and phenotypes in the amplification group were also assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with a p ‐value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results A total of 70 patients were included (35 in the 11q13 amplification group and 35 in the wild‐type group). Patients with 11q13 amplification exhibited significantly worse disease‐free survival (DFS) (3‐year DFS: 21.0% vs. 52.6%; p < 0.0019) and overall survival (OS) (3‐year OS: 46.4% vs. 66.7%; p = 0.032) compared to wild‐type patients. The recurrence pattern in the amplification group showed an approximately equal proportion of local‐regional recurrence (LRR) and distant metastases (DM). The LRR predominantly occurred within the 60 Gy radiation field. Multivariate analyses revealed that 11q13 amplification significantly associated with worse DFS ( p < 0.001) and OS ( p = 0.007). Conclusion LA‐HNSCC patients with 11q13 amplification exhibited significantly worse DFS and OS compared to wild‐type patients. The recurrence pattern in the 11q13 amplification group was primarily characterized by in‐field recurrences within the 60 Gy dose.