Survival outcomes and prognostic factors for ascending nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T4N0-1) receiving radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy: a population-based study from SEER database

Purpose This study aims to investigate survival outcomes and prognostic factors for upward nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) combined with chemotherapy (CT). Methods A total of 421 previously untreated, newly diagnosed T4N0-1 NPC patients, who were identified within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry (years 2004–2015), were collected and retrospectively reviewed. All patients received treatment of RT and CT. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The differences in OS and CSS were compared using Log-rank test. The independent prognostic factors were established by using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. Results With a median follow-up duration of 37 months (range: 3-154 months), the 5-year estimate OS and CSS rates were 59.3% and 63.7%, respectively. N0 and ≥ 65 years were poor prognostic factors for OS and CSS. Moreover, histology and race were associated with OS and CSS. Univariate analysis indicated that ≥ 65 years, N0, NHB and grade III were unfavorable independent prognosticators of OS and CSS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ≥ 65 years, N0 and NHB were correlated with poor OS and CSS. Conclusion Patients with stage T4N0-1 NPC receiving RT plus CT had favorable OS and CSS. Moreover, age, N stage and race were independent prognostic factors of OS and CSS.