Second primary lung cancer after head and neck squamous cell cancer: population-based study of risk factors

Abstract

Background: Patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) are at risk of developing second primary lung cancer (SPLC).

Methods: Among 61,883 patients with HNSCC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, 4522 developed SPLC (any histology) ≥2 months after HNSCC. We correlated risk with demographic and tumor-related parameters.

Results: The risk of SPLC after HNSCC was 5.8%, 11.4%, and 16.4% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. From Cox regression, significantly adverse (p < .0001) risk factors for SPLC included: regional versus localized HNSCC stage (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.16), hypopharyngeal or supraglottic laryngeal site (HR = 1.57), increased age (HR = 1.26/decade), black race (HR = 1.27), and male sex (HR = 1.26). Glottic (HR = 0.75) and tonsillar or oral cavity sites (HR = 0.80) were associated with significantly (p < .0001) lower risks of SPLC.

Conclusion: From population-based actuarial analyses, HNSCCs with more aggressive clinicopathologic features were more apt to develop SPLC, suggestive of similar environmental and/or host factors for these cancers.