Survival outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a nationwide analysis of 13 407 patients in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES: We reported the contemporary survival outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and analysed the factors affecting survival. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: We identified 13 407 patients with newly diagnosed NPC from 2002 to 2010. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was performed to measure the mortality-association risk factor in patients with NPC after adjusting for NPC treatment and socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, 5- and 8-year overall survival (OS) rates were 89.6%, 80.4%, 65.2% and 56.5%, respectively. The factors associated with mortality risk were sex (men versus women, HR = 1.45), age (>60 versus ≤ 40 years, HR = 3.61), geographic region of residence (eastern Taiwan versus northern Taiwan HR = 1.39), income (<15 840 versus >25 000, HR = 1.87) and treatment modality (chemotherapy alone versus radiotherapy alone, HR = 2.25). CONCLUSION: The contemporary 5-year OS rate was 65.2% in Taiwan. Male patients, old age, residing in eastern Taiwan, low income and receiving chemotherapy alone were independent predictors for poor OS.