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Comparative Study
. 2010 Apr;32(4):499-503.
doi: 10.1002/hed.21220.

Never-smokers, never-drinkers: unique clinical subgroup of young patients with head and neck squamous cell cancers

Stephen L Harris  1 , Randall J Kimple, D Neil Hayes, Marion E Couch, Julian G Rosenman
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Never-smokers, never-drinkers: unique clinical subgroup of young patients with head and neck squamous cell cancers

Stephen L Harris et al. Head Neck. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Young patients represent an increasing subgroup with head and neck cancer.

Methods: Patients between 18 and 39 years of age with newly diagnosed and previously untreated squamous cell cancers were identified.

Results: Seventy-eight patients met the selection criteria: 28 patients were never-smokers/never-drinkers (NSNDs), and 50 patients reported tobacco or alcohol abuse (smokers and/or drinkers [SD]). NSND patients were diagnosed at a younger median age (31.5 years vs 35.5 years, p = .007), were more likely to be female (75% vs 30%, p < .001) and white (89% vs 60%, p = .006), and were more likely to have tumors of the oral tongue (57% vs 24%, p = .003) and T1 disease (47% vs 20%, p = .01). There was no difference in 10-year relapse-free survival, but a suggestion of improved 10-year overall survival for NSND patients (71% vs 46%, p = .10).

Conclusions: Young patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) appear to have unique clinical profiles based on history of alcohol and tobacco abuse.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Relapse-free Survival (RFS) by history of alcohol or tobacco abuse NSND = non-smoker/non-drinker SD = smoker and/or drinker
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Overall Survival (OS) by history of alcohol or tobacco abuse NSND = non-smoker/non-drinker SD = smoker and/or drinker
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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