Héctor Gurrola-Machuca, Department of Oncology, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Mexico City, Mexico
Gabriela Nuñez-Guardado, Department of Oncology, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Mexico City, Mexico
Patricia E. Sánchez-Valencia, Department of Oncology, Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Mexico City, Mexico
Hector Gurrola-Luna, Department of Surgery, Hospital General de México, Secretariat of Health, Mexico City, Mexico
Eduardo Cardenas-Cardenas, Department of Oncology, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Mexico City, Mexico
Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes of patients with oral cavity cancer treated at a tertiary care center. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 224 patients with oral cavity cancer treated between 1988 and 2023. Clinical, pathological, and therapeutic data were collected, evaluating survival through Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results: The median overall survival was 92.3 months, with a better prognosis in early stages (111.6 months in stage I) and in patients treated surgically. Non-SCC tumors showed significantly greater survival. The use of induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy notably improved survival in advanced disease (203.9 months). Surgery was confirmed as the most effective strategy in the early stages. Conclusions: Age, functional status, histology, and clinical stage at diagnosis are relevant prognostic factors. Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment, and in locally advanced disease, induction chemotherapy is an option.
Keywords: Oral cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment. Overall survival. Prognosis.