Prognostic factors in patients with soft palate squamous cell carcinoma

Head Neck. 2019 May;41(5):1441-1449. doi: 10.1002/hed.25598. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

Abstract

Background: To define the prognostic factors associated with outcome in patients with soft palate squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Previously untreated patients with soft palate and uvula SCC treated in our institution between 1997 and 2012 were collected. The prognostic value of clinical, hematological, and treatment characteristics was examined.

Results: We identified 156 patients, median age 58 years, with 71% drinkers, 91% smokers; 19% had synchronous cancer. Front-line treatment was chemoradiotherapy in 58 (37%), radiotherapy alone in 60 (39%), surgery in 17 (11%), and induction chemotherapy in 21 patients (14%). The 5-year actuarial overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 41% and 37%, respectively. In univariate analysis, T3-T4 vs T1-T2 stage, N2-N3 vs N0-N1 stage, and neutrophil count >7 g/L were associated with worse OS and PFS (P < .05).

Conclusion: In patients with soft palate SCC, inflammation biomarkers were associated with OS.

Keywords: biomarkers; head and neck cancer; prognostic factor; squamous cell carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Databases, Factual
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Palatal Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Palatal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Palatal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Palate, Soft / pathology
  • Palate, Soft / surgery*
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sex Factors
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome