Impact of cytoreductive surgery with and without chemoradiation on the outcome of induced oral squamous cell carcinoma: an experimental study

Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of cytoreductive surgery with and without chemoradiation on tumor size, survival rate and systemic status in hamsters with chemically induced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Design The study was conducted on eighty-eight male hamsters. OSCC was induced by 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a] anthracene (DMBA) painted on hamsters’ buccal pouch. Hamsters were subsequently divided into four groups, group 1 ( n = 22) employed as control group, group 2 ( n = 22) with only induced OSCC left without treatment, group 3 ( n = 22) underwent surgical removal of 75% of tumor mass, and group 4 ( n = 22) underwent surgical procedures combined with chemoradiation. Results Clinical evaluation revealed that cytoreductive surgery combined with chemoradiation was associated with overall tumor size reduction and improvement of survival rate. Histological examination revealed necrosis of tumor tissue and heavy infiltration by chronic inflammatory cells were also observed. Conclusion Chemoradioation therapy after debulking surgery was associated with a decrease of tumor size and improvement in survival rate.