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. 2011;81(1):12-20.
doi: 10.1159/000330807. Epub 2011 Sep 8.

Gender and ethnic disparities in incidence and survival of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue, base of tongue, and tonsils: a surveillance, epidemiology and end results program-based analysis

Nabil F Saba  1 , Michael Goodman, Kevin Ward, Chris Flowers, Suresh Ramalingam, Taofeek Owonikoko, Amy Chen, William Grist, Trad Wadsworth, Jonathan J Beitler, Fadlo R Khuri, Dong M Shin
Affiliations

Gender and ethnic disparities in incidence and survival of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue, base of tongue, and tonsils: a surveillance, epidemiology and end results program-based analysis

Nabil F Saba et al. Oncology. 2011.

Abstract

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the oral tongue (OT) and of the base of the tongue and tonsils (BTT) differ with respect to etiology, treatment and prognosis. Human papillomavirus has been linked to the increased incidence of BTT, yet, the trends in incidence of BTT and OT tumors among gender and ethnic origin groups have not been well examined. We sought to examine the trend in gender-, ethnic origin- and age-specific incidence of these tumors over time.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the US National Cancer Institute. We examined temporal trends in sex- and ethnic origin-specific incidence of SCC by calculating the annual percent changes followed by joinpoint analyses evaluating changes in trend.

Results: While BTT increased in age-adjusted rates among white males with a more pronounced increase observed in the mid-1990s, white females experienced a significant increase in incidence of OT tumors. Patients with advanced OT carcinoma had a significantly lower survival compared to those with advanced BTT disease; however, patients with early-stage OT tumors had a better survival compared to patients with BTT.

Conclusions: While the increase in incidence of BTT tumors in white men is likely human papillomavirus driven, more studies are needed to elucidate the increasing incidence of OT tumors in white women. The differences in outcomes across ethnic origin groups are also described and discussed.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Age-adjusted rates and trends of SCC of OT by sex and race using joinpoint analyses. SEER data (9 registries, 1973–2008). NS = Not significant.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Age-adjusted rates and trends of SCC of BTT by sex and race using joinpoint analyses. SEER data (9 registries, 1973–2008).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Kaplan-Meier survival curves: oral cancer patients compared to patients diagnosed with cancer of BTT by stage and race. SEER data (1973–2008).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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