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Background: Although strongly associated with tobacco and alcohol use, many oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) cases occur in patients without exposure to either, known as "never‐smoker, never‐drinkers" (NSND). We aimed to compare clinical outcomes between NSND and tobacco/alcohol‐exposed populations and to define demographic characteristics of NSND. Methods: We performed a retrospective, single‐institution cohort study of 672 OCSCC patients. Cox models were used to estimate differences in overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) between NSND and tobacco/alcohol‐exposed patients while adjusting for confounders. Results: NSND represented 25.6% of our cohort and were older, more female, and more economically advantaged. Among NSND, oral tongue tumors dominated in younger patients, while alveolar ridge tumors dominated in elderly patients. Multivariate survival analysis revealed no differences in OS or RFS between NSND and tobacco/alcohol‐exposed patients. Conclusion: When adjusted for independent biologic features, clinical outcomes in OCSCC are similar between NSND and tobacco/alcohol‐exposed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The epidemiology of head and neck cancer (HNC) sites differ substantially. This study compares HNC incidence trends by site and demographic subgroups. Methods: We used the U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database to calculate HNC incidence rates per 100 000. We assessed trends with annual percent change (APC) longitudinally from 2001 to 2017. Results: The oropharyngeal cancer incidence APC decreased from 4.38% (95% CI: 3.6, 5.1) to 2.93% (2.5, 3.3) in 2008 among White males. Oral cavity cancer incidence rose in Other race males (APC 2.5% [1.6, 3.36]) and White females (APC: 0.96% [0.7, 1.2]). Although decreasing (APC: −1.15% [−1.48, −0.83]), laryngeal cancer incidence remained disproportionately high among Black males. Conclusions: Notable incidence trends occurred in non‐White groups at non‐oropharyngeal sites. With parity of smoking rates by race, differing sexual behaviors, and shifting demographics by race and sex, future studies of HNC trends should consider stratifying analyses to understand health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Oncologic treatment is costly to the health care system and to individuals, but patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) also have long-term care needs after treatment. Survivors of HNC require specific consideration given their rapidly growing numbers. This subpopulation of cancer survivors often experiences long-term treatment-associated morbidity., Objective: To describe the total and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs associated with HNC survivorship and the risk factors for financial toxicity among this population., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective review and economic evaluation of a cohort of US adults with a diagnosis of HNC from 2006 to 2018. The study used data the from IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims Database. Data were analyzed from November 2020 to June 2022., Exposures: Treatment for HNC., Main Outcomes and Measures: Total and OOP medical costs were assessed monthly and reported relative to the date of HNC diagnosis. The primary outcome was the difference between a patient's mean monthly survivorship costs (13-60 months after diagnosis) and mean monthly baseline costs (7-12 months before diagnosis). Univariate and multivariable linear regression models were created for total and OOP costs to generate coefficient estimates with 95% CIs., Results: The study cohort of this economic evaluation included 19 098 patients with HNC (median [range] age, 56 [18-64] years; 14 144 [74.1%] men and 4954 [25.9%] women; race and ethnicity were not considered). Throughout the survivorship period, median total and OOP costs were $372 per month and $31 per month higher than baseline costs, respectively, with variation in expenses by demographic information, health plan type, and oncologic variables. In the multivariable model, greater total and OOP excess survivorship costs were associated with female sex ($343/mo; 95% CI, $126 to $560 and $9/mo; 95% CI, $4 to $14). Highest and lowest total excess survivorship costs associated with cancer site were seen for hypopharyngeal ($1908/mo; 95% CI, $1102 to $2714) and oropharyngeal cancers (-$703/mo; 95% CI, -$967 to -$439) vs oral cavity cancers. Compared with surgery or radiation therapy alone, multimodal treatment was generally associated with excess OOP survivorship costs., Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this retrospective economic evaluation review suggest that the costs of HNC survivorship remain persistently elevated above baseline costs for at least 5 years after diagnosis. High survivorship costs were associated with female sex, hypopharyngeal tumors, and treatment with multimodal therapy. Practitioners should seek to minimize costs for these patients at higher-risk of financial toxicity after treatment and work to provide directed supportive services.