Retrospective Analysis of 5-Year Survival Rate of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Correlation with Clinical Features and Prognosis

Abstract

Main Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of NPC and their prognostic value , with a goal to correlate with Clinical Features and Prognosis. Results: The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for patients in stages I, II, III and IV were 66.7%, 55.6%, 41.8% and 25.9%, respectively (P=0.026), while the respective 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 60.0%, 51.1%, 36.6% and 18.6% (P=0.044). Clinical staging appears to be the most important prognostic factor for NPC. As the stage number increases, both the 5-year OS and PFS significantly decrease. The respective 5-year OS rates, according to stage, for the group that received radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy (Concurrent Chemotherapy-CCRT or Neo-adjuvant Chemotherapy-NAC-) and for the group that received radiotherapy only were as follows: stages I and II, 62.7% and 58.7% (P=0.450); stage III, 34.0%, 28.6% (P=0.460); stage IV, 36.7%, and 0.0% (P=0.036). The respective 5-year PFS rates in these groups were as follows: stages I and II, 56.0% and 50.2% (P=0.550); stage III, 26.9% and 15.0% (P=0.025); stage IV, 23.6% and 0.0% (P=0.008). Patients with stages I or II NPC will likely not benefit from the addition of chemotherapy, in terms of long-term survival and PFS. However, for patients with stage III NPC, adding chemotherapy can improve PFS to a certain degree though it may not improve OS and in patients with stage IV NPC, the addition of chemotherapy can significantly prolong both OS and PFS.