OSIRIS-Nose: Organ Sparing Using Interventional Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy) for Invasive Squamous Cell Cancer of the Nasal Vestibule
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule (SCCNV) represents a rare malignancy traditionally managed by radical surgical resection, frequently at the cost of substantial functional impairment and disfiguring aesthetic consequences. This study investigates an organ-preserving therapeutic strategy integrating high-dose-rate interventional radiotherapy (HDR-IRT; brachytherapy) with organ-preserving surgery. <b>Material and Methods</b>: A retrospective analysis of patients with primary SCCNV treated using HDR-IRT between 2008 and 2022, excluding recurrent disease and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. Interstitial HDR-IRT catheters were implanted intraoperatively, with radiation delivered twice daily to a target volume encompassing the tumor and a 10-15 mm safety margin. <b>Results</b>: Fifty-one patients were included, with a median age of 71 years. The median total dose was 40 Gy. Gross total resection was performed in 7 patients, and subtotal resection in 44. The median follow-up was 35 months. The 5-year nose preservation rate was 90%, with local control at 84%, regional failure-free survival at 94%, and overall survival at 82%. In total, 49 acute toxicity events were documented, including two grade 3 events, while 35 chronic toxicity events were reported, including one grade 3 event. At 3 years, 84.3% of cosmetic outcomes were rated as satisfactory, 9.8% as acceptable, and 5.9% as unsatisfactory. <b>Conclusions</b>: The OSIRIS approach, combining HDR-IRT with organ-preserving surgery, is an effective treatment for SCCNV, offering high organ preservation and favorable long-term disease control, with manageable toxicity and positive cosmetic outcomes.
Authors
- Tamer Soror (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5986-8707)
- Anke Leichtle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8067-4299)
- Warren Bacorro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6713-997X)
- György Kovács (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5149-9831)
- Pierre-Alexander Justenhoven
- KARL-LUDWIG BRUCHHAGE
- D Rades
Institutions
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- University of Santo Tomas Hospital (PH)
- University of Santo Tomas (PH)
- University of Lübeck (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cancers
- Published
- 2026-03-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18050883
- Primary Topic
- Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00