{
  "abstract": "Objective: Development of second primary cancers (SPCs) is a significant risk for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. This study investigates the impact of synchronous and metachronous SPCs on treatment strategies of newly diagnosed HNC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients referred for curative-intent radiotherapy between 2022 and 2024. The primary outcome was the impact of SPCs on HNC (chemo)radiotherapy strategies, with SPC prevalence and distribution as secondary outcomes. Results: A total of 285 patients were included. In 28.4% an SPC was observed. A total of 8.4% had a synchronous malignancy, 16.5% were treated for another malignancy in the past and 3.5% presented with both a synchronous and metachronous cancer. The treatment was impacted in 37.0% of patients with an SPC. Treatment modifications included altered radiotherapy field (23.5%), treatment delays (13.6%), adjusted radio- or chemotherapy regimens (2.5% each), and transition to palliative care (1.2%). Conclusion: A substantial proportion of SPCs influenced the radiotherapy (RT) management in all domains. The complexity of treatment was further increased by the need for additional pre-treatment evaluations and consideration of prior therapies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, Limburg Oncological Center (Jessa Hospital and Hospital Oost-Limburg), 3500 Hasselt, Belgium",
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, Limburg Oncological Center (Jessa Hospital and Hospital Oost-Limburg), 3600 Genk, Belgium",
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium",
    "Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium",
    "Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital Oost-Limburg, 3600 Genk, Belgium",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium",
    "Department of Medical Oncology, Limburg Oncological Center (Jessa Hospital and Hospital Oost-Limburg), 3500 Hasselt, Belgium",
    "Department of Medical Oncology, Limburg Oncological Center (Jessa Hospital and Hospital Oost-Limburg), 3600 Genk, Belgium",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Oost-Limburg, 3600 Genk, Belgium"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 17,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Mirte Bortels"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Heleen Bollen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Bjorn Baerts"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Olivier Beckers"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Caroline Bongers"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Kristof Deben",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9169-4030"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mieke Govers"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jan Jacobs"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Johan Orye"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Anne-Sophie Van de Velde"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Jasmien Cornillie"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Eric Joosens",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5656-4361"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Ferdinand Mennens"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Kristof Menten"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Annelies Requilé"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Daisy Jeurissen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Annelies Maes"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a84vjs3sgv899.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/cancers18223604",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "a84vjs3sgv899",
  "issns": [
    "2072-6694"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/22/3604",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-11",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a84vjs3sgv899.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-11T12:26:15Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/cancers18223604",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/22/3604"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "issn:2072-6694",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Impact of Second Primary Cancers on Treatment Modifications in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancer Referred for Curative-Intent Radiotherapy: A Retrospective Study",
  "title_text": "Impact of Second Primary Cancers on Treatment Modifications in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancer Referred for Curative-Intent Radiotherapy: A Retrospective Study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-13T00:21:26Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a84vjs3sgv899",
  "venue": "Cancers",
  "versions": []
}