Alcohol and cigarette consumption predict mortality in patients with head and neck cancer: A pooled analysis within the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) Consortium

L. Giraldi, E. Leoncini, Roberta Pastorino, V. Wünsch-Filho, M. de Carvalho, R. Lopez, G. Cadoni, D. Arzani, L. Petrelli, K. Matsuo, C. Bosetti, C. La Vecchia, W. Garavello, J. Polesel, D. Serraino, L. Simonato, C. Canova, L. Richiardi, P. Boffetta, M. HashibeY. C.A. Lee, S. Boccia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated whether demographics, pre-diagnosis lifestyle habits and clinical data are associated with the overall survival (OS) and head and neck cancer (HNC)-specific survival in patients with HNC. Patients and methods: We conducted a pooled analysis, including 4759 HNC patients from five studies within the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) Consortium. Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated including terms reported significantly associated with the survival in the univariate analysis. Results: Five-year OS was 51.4% for all HNC sites combined: 50.3% for oral cavity, 41.1% for oropharynx, 35.0% for hypopharynx and 63.9% for larynx. When we considered HNC-specific survival, 5-year survival rates were 57.4% for all HNC combined: 54.6% for oral cavity, 45.4% for oropharynx, 37.1% for hypopharynx and 72.3% for larynx. Older ages at diagnosis and advanced tumour staging were unfavourable predictors of OS and HNC-specific survival. In laryngeal cancer, low educational level was an unfavourable prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.54, 95% CI 1.01-6.38, for high school or lower versus college graduate), and status and intensity of alcohol drinking were prognostic factors both of the OS (current drinkers HR=1.73, 95% CI 1.16-2.58) and HNC-specific survival (current drinkers HR=2.11, 95% CI 1.22-3.66). In oropharyngeal cancer, smoking status was an independent prognostic factors for OS. Smoking intensity ( > 20 cigarettes/day HR=1.41, 95% CI 1.03-1.92) was also an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with cancer of the oral cavity. Conclusions: OS and HNC-specific survival differ among HNC sites. Pre-diagnosis cigarette smoking is a prognostic factor of the OS for patients with cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx, whereas pre-diagnosis alcohol drinking is a prognostic factor of OS and HNC-specific survival for patients with cancer of the larynx. Low educational level is an unfavourable prognostic factor for OS in laryngeal cancer patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2843-2851
Number of pages9
JournalAnnals of Oncology
Volume28
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2017

Keywords

  • Epidemiology
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Pooled analysis
  • Prognostic factors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology

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