Volume 43, Issue 6 pp. 1797-1811
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The prognostic significance of race in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by histological subtype

Katelyn O. Stepan MD

Katelyn O. Stepan MD

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Angela L. Mazul PhD, MPH

Angela L. Mazul PhD, MPH

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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S. Andrew Skillington MD, MSCI

S. Andrew Skillington MD, MSCI

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Randal C. Paniello MD, PhD

Randal C. Paniello MD, PhD

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Jason T. Rich MD

Jason T. Rich MD

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Jose P. Zevallos MD, MPH

Jose P. Zevallos MD, MPH

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Ryan S. Jackson MD

Ryan S. Jackson MD

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Patrik Pipkorn MD

Patrik Pipkorn MD

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Sean Massa MD

Sean Massa MD

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

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Sidharth V. Puram MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Sidharth V. Puram MD, PhD

Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

Correspondence

Sidharth V. Puram, Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8115, St. Louis, MO 63119, USA.

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First published: 23 February 2021
Citations: 11

Katelyn O. Stepan and Angela L. Mazul contributed equally to this study.

Section Editor: Benjamin Judson

Funding information: National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, Grant/Award Number: K01MD013897

Abstract

Background

Race has been shown to have variable prognostic importance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, previous studies are limited by a lack of comprehensive treatment, epidemiologic, and comorbidity data.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for overall survival.

Results

A cohort of 9995 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Race, insurance, comorbidity, treatment, stage, age, and histology were independent prognosticators. Among patients with keratinizing NPC, Asians and Hispanics had superior survival (aHR 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48–0.69], aHR 0.76 [95% CI 0.61–0.96]) compared to white patients. Among patients with non-keratinizing differentiated NPC, Asians and black patients had improved survival (aHR 0.71 [95% CI 0.56–0.91], aHR 0.72 [95% CI 0.54–0.95]) compared to white patients. Race was not prognostic in non-keratinizing undifferentiated NPC.

Conclusion

The prognostic significance of race varies across histological subtypes of NPC.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the National Cancer Database. Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study. Data are available from the authors with the permission of the National Cancer Database.

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