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Comparative Study
. 2013 Dec;37(6):793-802.
doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2013.08.008. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

Racial differences in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the United States

Yu Wang  1 , Yawei Zhang, Shuangge Ma
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Racial differences in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the United States

Yu Wang et al. Cancer Epidemiol. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant neoplasm arising from the mucosal epithelium of the nasopharynx. Different races can have different etiology, presentation, and progression patterns.

Methods: Data were analyzed on NPC patients in the United States reported to the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database between 1973 and 2009. Racial groups studied included non-Hispanic whites, Hispanic whites, blacks, Asians, and others. Patient characteristics, age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates, treatment, and five-year relative survival rates were compared across races. Stratification by stage at diagnosis and histologic type was considered. Multivariate regression was conducted to evaluate the significance of racial differences.

Results: Patient characteristics that were significantly different across races included age at diagnosis, histologic type, in situ/malignant tumors in lifetime, stage, grade, and regional nodes positive. Incidence and mortality rates were significantly different across races, with Asians having the highest rates overall and stratified by age and/or histologic type. Asians also had the highest rate of receiving radiation only. The racial differences in treatment were significant in the multivariate stratified analysis. When stratified by stage and histologic type, Asians had the best five-year survival rates. The survival experience of other races depended on stage and type. In the multivariate analysis, the racial differences were significant.

Conclusions: Analysis of the SEER data shows that racial differences exist among NPC patients in the U.S. This result can be informative to cancer epidemiologists and clinicians.

Keywords: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Racial differences; SEER.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relative survival up to five years for different racial groups. Cancers diagnosed in the period of 1973–2004, and followed up to 12/31/2009.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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