HSUEH-JU LU2026-10-162026-10-162024-05-01Pure ID: 15199175Pure UUID: 96fa3370-97fa-4eb9-bcc4-9bc460ccfaa310.1002/hed.27681https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85186400560https://scholars.csmu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/32606Background: For R/M HNSCC, the differences in prognosis and treatment options between distant metastasis (DM) and locoregional recurrence, especially in the DM group, remain unclear. Methods: From the Taiwan Head Neck Society registry database, patients who were diagnosed with R/M HNSCC and received cetuximab-based frontline therapy were collected for analysis. Results: Among the enrolled patients, 59.3% (491/827) belonged to the DM group. The DM group had less primary site of oral cavity, less betel nut chewing, higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and higher LDH/albumin ratio compared with the non-DM group. For the patients with primary site of oral cavity and current smokers, DM coexisted with poorer outcomes. In the DM group, EXTREME-like regimen was more suitable for older patients, those with elevated LDH, and those with higher LDH/albumin ratio than TPExtreme-like regimen. Conclusion: DM coexisted with poorer prognosis in certain groups. LDH-associated biomarkers may aid treatment options for DM patients.11enjournal article