Inherently poor survival of elderly patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the features of the elderly patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: The medical records of 212 patients with NPC, aged ≥65 years, and receiving radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Comorbidity was rated using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).

Results: Twenty-four patients (11.3%) scored ≥3 and 188 patients (88.7%) scored <3 rated by CCI. The median actuarial irradiated dose of the nasopharynx was 72 Gy (range, 20-94 Gy) with 87.3% patients receiving >70 Gy. One hundred fifty-four patients had stage III/IV disease. The actuarial local control, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years were 68.8%, 63.5%, and 47.0%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, stage (hazard ratio [HR], 1.489; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.168-1.897; p = .001), the technique of radiotherapy (HR, 0.674; 95% CI, 0.476-0.953; p = .025), and anemia (HR, 3.081; 95% CI, 1.624-5.845; p = .001) were independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion: The elderly patients with NPC may inherently predict poor outcomes.

Keywords: comorbidity; elderly; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; prognosis; radiotherapy.