Epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the United States: improved survival of Chinese patients within the keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma histology

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma survival by histology in endemic and non-endemic areas

BACKGROUND

To investigate the prognostic implications of histology among nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using the data from a Chinese cohort and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

METHODS

We included patients diagnosed with WHO II and III subtypes NPC from two independent cohorts (Xiamen [XM]-NPC cohort and SEER-NPC cohort).

RESULTS

We identified 726 patients in the XM-NPC cohort and 1334 patients in the SEER cohort. In the XM-NPC cohort, 94 (12.9%) and 632 (87.1%) patients had WHO II and III subtypes, respectively. In the SEER-NPC cohort, 839 (62.9%) and 495 (37.1%) patients had WHO II and III subtypes, respectively. WHO II subtype patients had a higher smoking rate than the WHO III subtype (57.4% vs. 43.4%) in the XM-NPC cohort. There were no significant differences in age, gender, tumor stage, or nodal stage between the two subtypes in both cohorts. In the XM-NPC cohort, patients with the WHO II subtype had worse locoregional relapse-free survival (82.2% vs. 89.5%, p = 0.063), distant metastasis-free survival (72.4% vs. 85.9%, p = 0.028), disease-free survival (61.6% vs. 78.8%, p = 0.003), and overall survival (OS) (71.7% vs. 84.0%, p = 0.035) than those with WHO III subtype. In the SEER-NPC cohort, patients with the WHO II subtype had worse NPC-specific survival (81.1% vs. 89.4%, p < 0.001) and OS (71.6% vs. 78.8%, p < 0.001) than those with WHO III subtype. The multivariate analysis showed that histology was an independent prognostic factor associated with outcomes in both cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the significant influence of histological subtypes on outcomes in NPC among various populations, highlighting substantial disparities between the WHO II and WHO III subtypes.

TLN1: an oncogene associated with tumorigenesis and progression

Talin-1 (TLN1), encoded by the TLN1 gene, is a focal adhesion-related protein capable of binding various proteins in the cytoskeleton. It is also expressed at high levels in many cancers wherein it influences cellular adhesion and the activation of integrins. TLN1 is also capable of promoting tumor cell invasivity, proliferation, and metastatic progression, in addition to being a relevant biomarker and therapeutic target in certain cancers. The present review offers a comprehensive overview of current knowledge regarding TLN1 with respect to its structural properties, functions, and role in tumor development.

Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy (ICI + Chemo) shows promise in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC), but some patients experience limited benefit and survival predictors remain unclear. Furthermore, ICIs efficacy in subsequent treatments needs further evaluation.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and major conference proceedings was conducted to identify studies for meta-analysis. The objective was to compare ICI + Chemo with chemotherapy in first-line treatment and identify efficacy predictors, and to evaluate ICIs alone in subsequent-line treatment for RM-NPC, with a focus on progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and treatment-related adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Fifteen trials involving 1928 patients were included. Three trials compared ICI + Chemo with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment, while 12 trials evaluated ICIs alone in subsequent-line treatment of RM-NPC patients. First-line ICI + Chemo showed superior PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.63; P <0.001) and ORR (risk ratio [RR] = 1.14, 95% CI, 1.05-1.24; P <0.001) compared to chemotherapy, without increased AEs (RR = 1.01, 95% CI, 0.99-1.03; P  = 0.481). Neither programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) nor other factors predicted the efficacy of ICI + Chemo vs . chemotherapy. Subsequent-line ICIs alone had a median PFS of 4.12 months (95% CI, 2.93-5.31 months), an ORR of 24% (95% CI, 20-28%), with grade 1-5/grade 3-5 AEs at 79%/14%. However, ICIs alone were associated with significantly shorter PFS (HR = 1.31, 95% CI, 1.01-1.68; P  = 0.040) than chemotherapy alone.

CONCLUSIONS

ICI + Chemo confers superior survival benefits compared to chemotherapy in first-line RM-NPC treatment, independent of PD-L1 expression or other factors. However, ICIs alone demonstrate a manageable safety profile but do not surpass chemotherapy in efficacy for subsequent-line treatment.

Gender-Specific Survival of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas Based on the US SEER Database and a Chinese Single-Institutional Registry

Purpose

To investigate the prognostic implications of gender in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) utilizing data from two independent cohorts: the Xiamen (XM)-NPC cohort (an endemic area in China) and the United States Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-NPC cohort (a non-endemic area).

Methods

We included patients diagnosed with NPC from both the XM-NPC and SEER-NPC cohorts. Statistical analysis involved the chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

Results

The study identified 728 patients in the XM-NPC cohort and 2237 in the SEER cohort. In the XM-NPC cohort, 515 (70.7%) were male and 213 (29.3%) were female. In the SEER-NPC cohort, 1597 (71.4%) were male and 640 (28.6%) were female. The male-to-female ratio peaked at ≤25 years (2.33) and 46-55 years (2.79) in the XM-NPC cohort, and at ≤25 years (2.07) and 56-65 years (3.24) in the SEER-NPC cohort. The lowest ratios were observed among patients aged 26-35 years in both cohorts (XM-NPC: 1.64; SEER-NPC:1.38). In the XM-NPC cohort, females had significantly better overall survival (P=0.022) and distant metastasis-free survival (P=0.038) compared to males. Similarly, in the SEER-NPC cohort, gender was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival, with females showing better outcomes (P=0.038). Consistent trends were observed in patients aged >45 years in both cohorts, while survival outcomes were comparable between genders in patients aged ≤45 years.

Conclusion

Gender independently influences survival outcomes of NPC in both endemic and non-endemic areas.

Short-term OS as a surrogate endpoint for 5-year OS in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in non-endemic area

PURPOSE

To address this evidence gap and validate short-term OS at less than 5 years as a reliable surrogate endpoint for 5-year OS.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, focusing on non-metastatic NPC patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015. Patients were categorized into radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy groups.

RESULTS

This retrospective study examined 2,047 non-metastatic NPC patients. Among them, 217 received radiotherapy, and 1,830 received chemoradiotherapy. Our analysis results indicated that the 4-year OS may serve as a reliable surrogate endpoint for patients with AJCC clinical stage I (80 vs. 78%, P = 0.250), regardless of the treatment received. Specifically, in the radiotherapy group, patients with stage I, T0-T1, and N0 NPC showed similar OS rates at 4 and 5 years (83 vs. 82%, P = 1.000; 78 vs. 76%, P = 0.250; 78 vs. 77%, P = 0.500, respectively). Similarly, patients with stage II-IV, T2-T4, and N1-3 NPC showed no significant difference in OS rates between 3 and 5 years (57 vs. 51%, P = 0.063; 52 vs. 46%, P = 0.250; 54 vs. 46%, P = 0.125, respectively) in the radiotherapy group. In the chemoradiotherapy group, only the 3-year OS rate did not significantly differ from that at 5 years in stage I patients (79vs. 72%, P = 0.063).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that short-term surrogate endpoints may be valuable for evaluating 5-year OS outcomes in NPC patients in non-endemic areas.

Role of combined surgical and radiotherapy treatment in nonmetastatic WHO I nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (KSCC) is recognized as WHO I nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Current guidelines for treating nasopharyngeal cancer do not delineate specific strategies for individual pathologic subtypes.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the optimal treatment for KSCC of the nasopharynx.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data on patients were extracted from the SEER database. Survival differences between patients treated with radiotherapy alone and combined surgery were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models and compared using propensity score matching (PSM). In addition, we explored the survival differences between the two groups of patients in different risk stratifications.

RESULTS

In our study, 165 patients underwent surgical intervention, while 1238 patients did not. In both univariate (CSS: p = .001, HR = 0.612; OS: p < .001, HR = 0.623) and multivariate (CSS: p = .004, HR = 0.655; OS: p < .001, HR = 0.655) analyses, combined surgery was identified as a significant prognostic factor. These findings were consistent after PSM. Using RPA, patients were categorized into two groups. CSS improved in the high-risk group, whereas the difference in low-risk patients was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

For patients diagnosed with WHO I nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the combination of radiotherapy and surgery has significant clinical advantages, especially for patients at high risk.

Association between time from diagnosis to treatment and survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Treatment delays have frequently been observed in cancer patients. Whether the treatment delays would impair the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is still unclear.

METHODS

The data were derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015. Patients were divided into groups of timely treatment (<1 month), intermediate delay (1 and 2 months), and long delay (3-6 months). The influence of different treatment delay intervals on long-term survival was evaluated by multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 2,048 patients with NPC were included in our study. There were 551 patients in the early stage (I, II stage: 26.9 %) and 1,497 patients in the advanced stage (III, IV stage: 73.1 %). No significant difference in overall survival (OS) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) was observed among the groups with various treatment delay intervals (p = 0.48 in OS and p = 0.43 in CSS, respectively). However, upon adjusting for covariates, a significantly improved OS probability emerged in patients with intermediate treatment delays compared to those who received timely interventions in both the entire study population (adjustedHazard Ratio (aHR)=0.86, 95 % CI: 0.74-0.99, p = 0.043) and the subgroup with advanced stage (aHR=0.85, 95 % CI: 0.72-1.00, p = 0.049). Regarding the CSS probability, similar associations were also observed in the entire study population (aHR=0.84, 95 % CI: 0.71-0.98, p = 0.030) as well as the advanced-stage patients (aHR=0.83, 95 % CI: 0.70-0.99, p =  0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed that treatment delays are not associated with worse survival of NPC patients. Tumor-specific characteristics and subsequent treatment modalities play more pivotal roles in the prognosis of NPC.

Two web-based dynamically interactive nomograms and risk stratification systems for predicting survival outcomes and guiding treatment in non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

A nomogram is a valuable and easily accessible tool for individualizing cancer prognosis. This study aims to establish and validate two prognostic nomograms for long-term overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients and to investigate the treatment options for the nomogram-based risk stratification subgroups.

METHODS

A total of 3959 patients with non-metastatic NPC between 2004 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The patients were randomly allocated to the training and validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio. Prognostic nomograms were constructed to estimate OS and CSS by integrating significant variables from multivariate Cox regression employing a backward stepwise method. We examined the correlation indices (C-index) and areas under the curves (AUC) of time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves to assess the discriminative ability of our survival models. The comprehensive enhancements of predictive performance were evaluated with net reclassification operating improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Reliability was validated using calibration plots. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to estimate clinical efficacy and capability. Finally, the nomogram-based risk stratification system used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests to examine differences between subgroups.

RESULTS

The following independent parameters were significant predictors for OS: sex, age, race, marital status, histological type, median household income, AJCC stage tumor size, and lymph node size. Except for the race variables mentioned above, the rest were independent prognostic factors for CSS. The C-index, AUC, NRI, and IDI indicated satisfactory discriminating properties. The calibration curves exhibited high concordance with the exact outcomes. Moreover, the DCA demonstrated performed well for net benefits. The prognosis significantly differed between low- and high-risk patients (p < 0.001). In a treatment-based stratified survival analysis in risk-stratified subgroups, chemotherapy benefited patients in the high-risk group compared to radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy only was recommended in the low-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our nomograms have satisfactory performance and have been validated. It can assist clinicians in prognosis assessment and individualized treatment of non-metastatic NPC patients.

Trends in nasopharyngeal cancer mortality in the United States, 1999-2020

OBJECTIVES

The incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has been declining in the United States (US) in recent years. However, little is known about the latest trends in NPC mortality in the US population. This study aimed to examine the trends in NPC mortality rate by age, sex, race and ethnicity and US Census Region from 1999 to 2020.

METHODS

Mortality data were extracted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database. Decedents whose cause of death was NPC were identified using the International Classification of Diseases Codes, 10th Revision: C11.0-C11.9. Trends in age adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) from NPC were assessed using a joinpoint regression model. Annual Percentage Changes (APC) and Average Annual Percentage Changes were examined overall and by age, sex, race and ethnicity and census region.

RESULTS

From 1999 through 2020, a total of 14 534 NPC deaths were recorded in the US (AAMR = 0.2 per 100 000; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.2). Overall trends remained stationary throughout the study period. Since 2006, recent trends declined by 6.1% per year (95% CI: -8.4, -3.7) among Non-Hispanic Whites, and by 2.7% per year among Non-Hispanic Blacks, Asians/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics. Trends either stabilized or declined by sex, age and US Census Region. Similar results were obtained when the analysis was restricted to decedents aged 65 years and above.

CONCLUSIONS

Stationary or declining trends in NPC mortality could be due to the falling incidence of the disease and/or advances in medical diagnosis and treatment. Considering the enigmatic nature of NPC, future studies should explore the genetic and sociodemographic factors associated with the trends reported in this study.

Conditional survival nomogram for monitoring real-time survival of young non-metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to clarify the improvement of the overall survival (OS) over time in young non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) survivors by conditional survival (CS) analysis and to construct a CS-nomogram for updating individualized real-time prognosis.

METHODS

The study included 3409 young non-metastatic NPC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2019). OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. CS was calculated based on CS(y|x) = OS(y + x)/OS(x), defined as the probability that a patient would survive for another y years after surviving for x years since diagnosis. We identified predictors using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and developed the CS-nomogram using multivariate Cox regression and the CS formula.

RESULTS

CS analysis showed a continuous increase in 10-year OS for young non-metastatic NPC from the initial 60.4% to 65.0%, 70.2%, 74.2%, 78.2%, 82.6%, 86.9%, 91.1%, 96.2% and 97.0% (surviving 1-9 years after diagnosis, respectively). After screening by LASSO regression, age, race, marital status, histological type, T- and N-status were used as predictors to construct the CS-nomogram. The model accurately estimated the real-time prognosis of survivors during follow-up with a stable time-dependent area under the curve (AUC).

CONCLUSIONS

CS analysis based on SEER database calibrated the real-time prognosis of young non-metastatic NPC survivors, revealing a dynamic improvement during follow-up time. We developed a novel CS-nomogram to update survival data for real-time optimization of monitoring strategies, medical resource allocation, and patient counseling. However, it was important to note that the model still needed external data validation and continuous improvement.

Camrelizumab combined with apatinib in patients with first-line platinum-resistant or PD-1 inhibitor resistant recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a single-arm, phase 2 trial

Immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic targeted therapy has improved the treatment of certain solid tumors, but effective regimens remain elusive for refractory recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC). We conducted a phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety and activity of camrelizumab plus apatinib in platinum-resistant (cohort 1, NCT04547088) and PD-1 inhibitor resistant NPC (cohort 2, NCT04548271). Here we report on the primary outcome of objective response rate (ORR) and secondary endpoints of safety, duration of response, disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. The primary endpoint of ORR was met for cohort 1 (65%, 95% CI, 49.6-80.4, n = 40) and cohort 2 (34.3%; 95% CI, 17.0-51.8, n = 32). Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) were reported in 47 (65.3%) of 72 patients. Results of our predefined exploratory investigation of predictive biomarkers show: B cell markers are the most differentially expressed genes in the tumors of responders versus non-responders in cohort 1 and that tertiary lymphoid structure is associated with higher ORR; Angiogenesis gene expression signatures are strongly associated with ORR in cohort 2. Camrelizumab plus apatinib combination effectiveness is associated with high expression of PD-L1, VEGF Receptor 2 and B-cell-related genes signatures. Camrelizumab plus apatinib shows promising efficacy with a measurable safety profile in RM-NPC patients.

Histogram analysis of quantitative parameters from synthetic MRI: correlations with prognostic factors in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the correlation between histogram parameters derived from synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) and prognostically relevant factors in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

Fifty-nine consecutive NPC patients were prospectively enrolled. Quantitative parameters (T1, T2, and proton density (PD)) were obtained by outlining the three-dimensional volume of interest (VOI) of all lesions. Then, histogram analysis of these quantitative parameters was performed and the correlations with prognostically relevant factors were assessed. By choosing appropriate cutoff, we divided the sample into two groups. Independent-samples t test/Mann-Whitney U test was used and ROC curve analysis was further processed.

RESULTS

Histogram parameters of the T1, T2, and PD maps were positively correlated with the Ki-67 expression levels, and PD_mean was the most representative parameter (AUC: 0.861). The PD map exhibited good performance in differentiating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression levels (AUC: 0.706~0.732) and histological type (AUC: 0.650~0.660). T2_minimum was highest correlated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels (r =  - 0.419), and PD_75th percentile exhibited the highest performance in distinguishing positive and negative EBV DNA groups (AUC: 0.721). T1_minimum was statistically correlated with EA-IgA expression (r =  - 0.313). Additionally, several histogram parameters were negatively correlated with tumor stage (T stage: r =  - 0.259 ~ - 0.301; N stage: r =  - 0.348 ~  - 0.456; clinical stage: r =  - 0.419).

CONCLUSIONS

Histogram parameters of SyMRI could reflect tissue intrinsic characteristics and showed potential value in assessing the Ki-67 and EGFR expression levels, histological type, EBV DNA level, EA-IgA, and tumor stage.

KEY POINTS

• SyMRI combined with histogram analysis may help clinicians to assess different prognostic factor statuses in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. • The PD map exhibited good discriminating performance in the Ki-67 and EGFR expression levels. • Histogram parameters of SyMRI were negatively correlated with EBV-related blood biomarkers and TNM stage.

Immunotherapeutic approaches in EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was the first tumor virus in humans. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) accounts for approximately 60% of the 200,000 new tumor cases caused by EBV infection worldwide each year. NPC has an insidious onset and is highly malignant, with more than 70% of patients having intermediate to advanced disease at the time of initial diagnosis, and is strongly implicated in epithelial cancers as well as malignant lymphoid and natural killer/T cell lymphomas. Over 90% of patients with confirmed undifferentiated NPC are infected with EBV. In recent decades, much progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of NPC and developing therapeutic approaches. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the main treatment options for NPC; however, they have a limited efficacy in patients with locally advanced or distant metastatic tumors. Tumor immunotherapy, including vaccination, adoptive cell therapy, and immune checkpoint blockade, represents a promising therapeutic approach for NPC. Significant breakthroughs have recently been made in the application of immunotherapy for patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC (RM-NPC), indicating a broad prospect for NPC immunotherapy. Here, we review important research findings regarding immunotherapy for NPC patients and provide insights for future research.

Pretreatment Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase and Metastases Numbers as Potential Determinants of Anti-PD-1 Therapy Outcome in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the determinant factors of anti-PD-1 therapy outcome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we included 64 patients with recurrent/metastatic NPC. The association of patients' characteristics, C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) with survival benefit of anti-PD-1 therapy were analyzed using Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Patients were divided based on the median value of CRP, NLR or LDH into different subgroups.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up time of 11.4 months (range: 1-28 months), median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 1.9 months (95% CI, .18-3.6) and 15 months (95% CI, 10.9-19.1) months, respectively. Pretreatment metastases numbers was significant predictor of PFS (HR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.10-3.63; P = .024) and OS (HR = 2.77; 95% CI 1.36-5.61; P = .005). Baseline LDH level was independent predictor of OS (HR = 7.01; 95% CI 3.09-15.88; P < .001). Patients with LDH level >435 U/L at the baseline had significantly shorter PFS and OS compared to patients with LDH level ≤435 U/L (median PFS: 1.7 vs 3.5 months, P = .040; median OS: 3.7 vs 18.5 months, P < .001). Patients with non-durable clinical benefit (NDB) had significantly higher LDH level at the baseline compared to patients who achieved durable clinical benefit (DCB) (P = .025). Post-treatment levels of CRP, LDH, and NLR were decreased compared to baseline in patients with DCB (P = .030, P = .088, and P = .066, respectively), whereas, there was a significant increase in post-treatment level of LDH compared with baseline in patients with NDB (P = .024).

CONCLUSIONS

LDH level at the baseline was an independent predictor of OS and pretreatment metastases numbers was a significant predictor of PFS and OS.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a non-endemic country-Validation of the new NPC staging system

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) staging has recently been updated, with the eighth edition of the AJCC/UICC. In the last ten years, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) has become a standard treatment for NPC. The authors aim to assess the benefits of the new AJCC staging system in predicting prognosis, as well as the improvement in survival outcomes in the IMRT era, in non-edemic population.

METHODS

Retrospective study selecting patients treated for NPC between January 2009 and December 2019 in a cancer treatment center in Portugal. Initial TNM staging (according to the seventh edition of the AJCC/UICC) was collected and each patient was restaged according to the new TNM staging system. Overall survival (OS) and Distant Metastasis Free Survival (DMFS) stratified by T and N classification and stage (according to the both TNM staging systems) were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate which factors influence OS and DMFS. Data in this series was compared with a previous report from the same institution, before IMRT standard use.

RESULTS

113 patients were included, averaging 53.74 (±1.4) years old. With the new TNM staging, 5 patients were downstaged and 3 patients were upstaged. Over a median follow-up time of 41 months, the 5-year OS and DMFS were 77% and 79.8%, respectively. Neither the seventh nor the eighth editions of the AJCC/UICC staging system had good overall discrimination between each T classification OS and DMFS curves. Both the seventh and the eighth editions of the AJCC/UICC staging system had statistically significant overall discrimination between each N group and each stage group classification OS curves. Only N classification predicted OS in multivariate analysis. When comparing to a previous report from the same institution, OS has not improved majorly, especially in locoregionally advanced disease.

CONCLUSIONS

TNM staging still presents limitations in adequately predicting OS and DMFS.

Analysis of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and PD-L1 Expression in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients in a Non-Endemic Region

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and the expression of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in tumor samples from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

Evaluation of EBV infection was performed through the detection of EBV-encoded small ribonucleic acids (EBER) by in situ hybridization, and PD-L1 expression was performed through immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

In total, 124 samples were evaluated for EBER and 120 for PD-L1 expression. A total of 86.3% of cases were positive for EBER and 55.8% were positive for PD-L1. There was a correlation between EBER positivity and the presence of undifferentiated carcinoma histology (p = 0.007) as well as the absence of tobacco history (p = 0.019). There was a correlation between PD-L1 expression and EBER positivity (p = 0.004). There was no statistically significant difference between overall survival (OS) and EBER (p = 0.290) or PD-L1 (p = 0.801) expression.

CONCLUSIONS

This study corresponds to one of the largest cohorts of NPC in a non-endemic region. Phase III studies with checkpoint inhibitors are ongoing and may provide more data about the role of PD-L1 expression in this disease.

The Correlation between Risk Factors and Epstein-Barr Virus Serum Antibody with Histopathological Typing of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The risk-combination of genetic or familial history, environmental risk factors, and EBV infection might cause nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis. The serum antibody for EBV IgA, namely, EBNA1+VCA-p18 has a good sensitivity as an early diagnostic test for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). AIM: This study aims to determine the correlation between risk factors and histopathological typing of NPC and also the correlation between the IgA [EBNA-1 + VCA p-18] ELISA and histologic type. METHODS: A cross-sectional method was used on 108 NPC patients which filled a questionnaire through an in-depth interview on the family condition to cancer, habit/lifestyle, and environmental risks. A total of 47 subjects were willing to donate blood samples for IgA [EBNA1 + VCA p-18] ELISA. Furthermore, Kendall’s tau-b (τ) correlation test was performed on NPC keratin type (WHO-1) and non-keratin (WHO-2 and 3). RESULTS: The results showed that the family history of non-keratinized NPC was associated with NPC WHO-3 as demonstrated by τ = 0.473, as well as salt-eating with τ = 0.334, smoked/grilled fish/meat eating τ = 0.205, instant noodle-eating τ = 0.356, consuming canned/packaged canned foods τ = 0.240, and flavored food eating habits τ = 0.364, along with passive smoking τ = 0.377, and chronic nasopharyngeal infection τ = 0.530. The IgA titers, namely, [EBNA1 + VCA p-18] ELISA for non-keratin type NPC was greater than the keratin type; however, it was not related to WHO-3 NPC as indicated by τ = 0.376, and p = 0.011 put this underlying before however. CONCLUSIONS: The positivity of IgA [EBNA-1 + VCA p-18] ELISA does not correlate with the non-keratin type histologic NPC, family history, as well as salt-eating, instant noodle, and flavored food eating habits, along with passive smoking and nasopharyngeal infection.

Cancer of the nasopharynx in Aotearoa New Zealand from 1994 to 2018: Incidence and survival in a population-based, national registry cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cancer of the nasopharynx has remarkable geographic and ethnic variation in incidence and outcomes globally. Recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies provide new opportunities for early detection and improved outcomes. This study aimed to determine the incidence, demographics, outcomes and time trends of cancer of the nasopharynx in Aotearoa New Zealand over the last 25 years.

METHODS

In a population-based, national registry cohort study of notifications of malignant neoplasms of the nasopharynx made to the New Zealand Cancer Registry between 1994 and 2018, age-specific and age-standardised incidence rates and survival outcomes were evaluated.

FINDINGS

577 registrations of nasopharyngeal cancer from between 1994 and 2018 were analysed; median age at diagnosis 54 years; 72.4% male; 37.4% Asian, 24.3% New Zealand European, 25.3% Pacific peoples, 13.0% Māori. Age-standardised annual incidence remained low (<1/100,000 person-years) and stable from 1994 to 2018. Age-standardised incidence rates in Pacific peoples, Asian and Māori were 21 (95% CI 12.07-35.21)-, 17 (10.95-25.33)- and 4 (2.79-7.07)-fold higher, respectively, than New Zealand Europeans. Epstein-Barr virus-related morphologies predominated keratinising squamous cell carcinoma and not-otherwise-specified morphological subtypes. Ten-year overall survival rate for the cohort was 49.2% (95% CI 44.7-53.5). Older age at diagnosis (65-94 years), Māori or Pacific ethnicity, keratinising squamous cell carcinoma and distant disease were associated with shorter overall survival, whereas younger age at diagnosis (10-29 years), and Asian ethnicity were associated with longer survival.

INTERPRETATION

Aotearoa New Zealand has a distinct profile of nasopharyngeal cancer, with age, ethnicity and morphology among the main determinants of incidence and survival.

FUNDING

None.

Machine Learning Based on MRI DWI Radiomics Features for Prognostic Prediction in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Simple Summary

In the past, radiomics studies of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were only based on basic MR sequences. Previous studies have shown that radiomics methods based on T2-weighted imaging and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging have been successfully used to improve the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive efficacy of radiomics analyses based on readout-segmented echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (RESOLVE-DWI) which quantitatively reflects the diffusion motion of water molecules for prognosis evaluation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Several prognostic radiomics models were established by using diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient maps, T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging to predict the risk of recurrence or metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and the predictive effects of different models were compared. The results show that the model based on MRI DWI can successfully predict the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and has higher predictive efficiency than the model based on the conventional sequence, which suggests MRI DWI-radiomics can provide a useful and alternative approach for survival estimation.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the predictive efficacy of radiomics analyses based on readout-segmented echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (RESOLVE-DWI) for prognosis evaluation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in order to provide further information for clinical decision making and intervention. Methods: A total of 154 patients with untreated NPC confirmed by pathological examination were enrolled, and the pretreatment magnetic resonance image (MRI)—including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE-T1WI)—was collected. The Random Forest (RF) algorithm selected radiomics features and established the machine-learning models. Five models, namely model 1 (DWI + ADC), model 2 (T2WI + CE-T1WI), model 3 (DWI + ADC + T2WI), model 4 (DWI + ADC + CE-T1WI), and model 5 (DWI + ADC + T2WI + CE-T1WI), were constructed. The average area under the curve (AUC) of the validation set was determined in order to compare the predictive efficacy for prognosis evaluation. Results: After adjusting the parameters, the RF machine learning models based on extracted imaging features from different sequence combinations were obtained. The invalidation sets of model 1 (DWI + ADC) yielded the highest average AUC of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.79–0.81). The average AUCs of the model 2, 3, 4, and 5 invalidation sets were 0.72 (95% CI: 0.71–0.74), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.64–0.68), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.73–0.75), and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.74–0.76), respectively. Conclusion: A radiomics model derived from the MRI DWI of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was generated in order to evaluate the risk of recurrence and metastasis. The model based on MRI DWI can provide an alternative approach for survival estimation, and can reveal more information for clinical decision-making and intervention.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Nasopharyngeal Cancer with an Emphasis among Asian Americans

Despite the overall decreasing incidence, nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) continues to cause a significant health burden among Asian Americans (AAs), who are a fast-growing but understudied heterogeneous racial group in the United States. We aimed to examine the racial/ethnic disparities in NPC incidence, treatment, and mortality with a specific focus on AA subgroups. NPC patients aged ≥ 15 years were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 (1975-2018). AAs were divided into Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Hawaiian, Japanese, Laotian, Korean, Cambodian, Indian/Pakistani and other Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs). Age-adjusted incidence was calculated using the SEER*Stat software. Cox proportional and Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard models were used to calculate overall and cause-specific mortalities after adjusting for confounders. Among the total 11,964 NPC cases, 18.4% were Chinese, 7.7% Filipino, 5.0% Vietnamese, 1.2% Hawaiian, 1.0% Japanese, 0.8% Laotian, 0.8% Korean, 0.6% Cambodian, 0.5% Indian/Pakistani and 4.4% other APIs. Laotians had the highest age-adjusted NPC incidence (9.21 per 100,000), which was 18.04 times higher than it in non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Chinese and Filipinos observed lower overall mortalities, however, Chinese saw increased NPC-specific mortality than NHWs. Disparities in mortality were also found across different histology subtypes. This is the first and largest study examining the NPC incidence and outcomes in AA subgroups. The significant disparities of NPC within AAs underline the importance of adequate AA-subgroup sample size in future studies to understand the prognostic role of ethnicity in NPC and advocate more ethnically and culturally tailored cancer prevention and care delivery.

Tumor Prognostic Prediction of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using CT-Based Radiomics in Non-Chinese Patients

Purpose

We aimed to construct predictive models for the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients by using CT-based radiomics.

Materials and Methods

We collected data from 197 NPC patients. For each patient, radiomic features were extracted from the CT image acquired at pretreatment via PyRadiomics. Feature selection was performed in two steps. First, features with high inter-observer variability based on multiple tumor delineations were excluded. Then, stratified bootstrappings were performed to identify feature combinations that most frequently achieved the highest (i) area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting 3-year OS, PFS, and DMFS or (ii) Harrell’s C-index for predicting time to event. Finally, regularized logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models with the most frequently selected feature combinations as input were tuned using cross-validation. Additionally, we examined the robustness of the constructed model to variation in tumor delineation by simulating 100 realizations of radiomic feature values to mimic features extracted from different tumor boundaries.

Results

The combined model that used both radiomics and clinical features yielded significantly higher AUC and Harrell’s C-index than models using either feature set alone for all outcomes (p &lt; 0.05). The AUCs and Harrell’s C-indices of the clinical-only and radiomics-only models ranged from 0.758 ± 0.091 to 0.789 ± 0.082 and from 0.747 ± 0.062 to 0.767 ± 0.074, respectively. In comparison, the combined models achieved AUC of 0.801 ± 0.075 to 0.813 ± 0.078 and Harrell’s C-indices of 0.779 ± 0.066 to 0.796 ± 0.069. The results showed that our models were robust to variation in tumor delineation with the coefficient of variation ranging from 4.8% to 6.4% and from 6.7% to 9.3% for AUC and Harrell’s C-index, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that using CT-based radiomic features together with clinical features provided superior NPC prognostic prediction than using either clinical or radiomic features alone.

Toripalimab or placebo plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a multicenter randomized phase 3 trial

Gemcitabine-cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy is the standard first-line systemic treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC). In this international, double-blind, phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03581786), 289 patients with RM-NPC and no previous chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease were randomized (1/1) to receive either toripalimab, a monoclonal antibody against human programmed death-1 (PD-1), or placebo in combination with GP every 3 weeks for up to six cycles, followed by monotherapy with toripalimab or placebo. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) as assessed by a blinded independent review committee according to RECIST v.1.1. At the prespecified interim PFS analysis, a significant improvement in PFS was detected in the toripalimab arm compared to the placebo arm: median PFS of 11.7 versus 8.0 months, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36-0.74), P = 0.0003. An improvement in PFS was observed across key subgroups, including PD-L1 expression. As of 18 February 2021, a 40% reduction in risk of death was observed in the toripalimab arm compared to the placebo arm (HR = 0.603 (95% CI: 0.364-0.997)). The incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) (89.0 versus 89.5%), AEs leading to discontinuation of toripalimab/placebo (7.5 versus 4.9%) and fatal AEs (2.7 versus 2.8%) was similar between the two arms; however, immune-related AEs (39.7 versus 18.9%) and grade ≥3 infusion reactions (7.5 versus 0.7%) were more frequent in the toripalimab arm. In conclusion, the addition of toripalimab to GP chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with RM-NPC provided superior PFS compared to GP alone, and with a manageable safety profile.

RNA-binding motif protein RBM47 promotes tumorigenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through multiple pathways

RNA binding motif proteins (RBMs) have been widely implicated in the tumorigenesis of multiple human cancers but scarcely studied in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, we compare the mRNA levels of 29 RBMs between 87 NPC and 10 control samples. We find that RBM47 is frequently upregulated in NPC specimens, and its high expression is associated with the poor prognosis of patients with NPC. Biological experiments show that RBM47 plays an oncogenic role in NPC cells. Mechanically, RBM47 binds to the promoter and regulates the transcription of BCAT1, and its overexpression partially rescues the inhibitory effects of RBM47-knockdown on NPC cells. Moreover, transcriptome analysis reveals that RBM47 regulates alternative splicing of pre-mRNA, including those cancer-related, to a large extent in NPC cells. Furthermore, RBM47 binds to hnRNPM and cooperatively regulates multiple splicing events in NPC cells. In addition, we find that knockdown of hnRNPM inhibits proliferation and migration of NPC cells. Our study, taken together, shows that RBM47 promotes the progression of NPC through multiple pathways, acting as a transcriptional factor and a modulator of alternative splicing in cooperation with hnRNPM. Our study also highlights that RBM47 and hnRNPM could be prognostic factors and potential therapeutic targets for NPC.

The prognostic significance of race in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by histological subtype

BACKGROUND

Race has been shown to have variable prognostic importance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, previous studies are limited by a lack of comprehensive treatment, epidemiologic, and comorbidity data.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for overall survival.

RESULTS

A cohort of 9995 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Race, insurance, comorbidity, treatment, stage, age, and histology were independent prognosticators. Among patients with keratinizing NPC, Asians and Hispanics had superior survival (aHR 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-0.69], aHR 0.76 [95% CI 0.61-0.96]) compared to white patients. Among patients with non-keratinizing differentiated NPC, Asians and black patients had improved survival (aHR 0.71 [95% CI 0.56-0.91], aHR 0.72 [95% CI 0.54-0.95]) compared to white patients. Race was not prognostic in non-keratinizing undifferentiated NPC.

CONCLUSION

The prognostic significance of race varies across histological subtypes of NPC.

Targeted Delivery of BZLF1 to DEC205 Drives EBV-Protective Immunity in a Spontaneous Model of EBV-Driven Lymphoproliferative Disease

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpes virus that infects over 90% of the world's population and is linked to development of cancer. In immune-competent individuals, EBV infection is mitigated by a highly efficient virus-specific memory T-cell response. Risk of EBV-driven cancers increases with immune suppression (IS). EBV-seronegative recipients of solid organ transplants are at high risk of developing post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) due to iatrogenic IS. While reducing the level of IS may improve EBV-specific immunity and regression of PTLD, patients are at high risk for allograft rejection and need for immune-chemotherapy. Strategies to prevent PTLD in this vulnerable patient population represents an unmet need. We have previously shown that BZLF1-specific cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) expansion following reduced IS correlated with immune-mediated PTLD regression and improved patient survival. We have developed a vaccine to bolster EBV-specific immunity to the BZLF1 protein and show that co-culture of dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with a αDEC205-BZLF1 fusion protein with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) leads to expansion and increased cytotoxic activity of central-effector memory CTLs against EBV-transformed B-cells. Human-murine chimeric Hu-PBL-SCID mice were vaccinated with DCs loaded with αDEC205-BZLF1 or control to assess prevention of fatal human EBV lymphoproliferative disease. Despite a profoundly immunosuppressive environment, vaccination with αDEC205-BZLF1 stimulated clonal expansion of antigen-specific T-cells that produced abundant IFNγ and significantly prolonged survival. These results support preclinical and clinical development of vaccine approaches using BZLF1 as an immunogen to harness adaptive cellular responses and prevent PTLD in vulnerable patient populations.

Socioeconomic Factors Affect Presentation Stage and Survival in Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Socioeconomic factors affect oncologic outcome in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC). However, the relationship between these factors and stage at presentation (SAP)-a critical, early point in the care cycle-is not known. This study sought to determine the role of race/ethnicity, treatment facility type, insurance status/carrier, and other socioeconomic factors in SAP and survival among patients with advanced SNSCC.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Using the National Cancer Database, 6,155 patients with SNSCC were identified and divided into those with "early" (Stage I or II; 2,212 (35.9%)) versus "advanced" (Stage III or IV; 3,943 (64.1%)) disease. Associations between sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors on SAP and survival were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

Black (odds ratio [OR]: 2.18, CI: 1.74-2.76), Asian and Pacific Islander (API) (OR: 2.37, CI: 1.43-4.14), and Medicaid or uninsured (OR: 2.04, CI: 1.66-2.53) patients were more likely to present with advanced disease. Among patients with advanced disease, API patients demonstrated the highest 10-year survival rate (30.2%), and Black patients had the lowest 2-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates (47.7%, 31.9% and 19.2%, respectively). Older age (HR:1.03, CI:1.03-1.04), Black race (HR:1.39, CI:1.21-1.59), Medicaid or uninsured status (HR:1.48, CI:1.27-1.71), and treatment at a community hospital (HR:1.25, CI:1.14-1.37) were associated with poorer overall survival among patients with advanced disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors including race/ethnicity, treatment facility type, insurance status/carrier, and other socioeconomic factors influence SAP and survival in SNSCC. An improved understanding of how these factors relate to outcomes may elucidate opportunities to address gaps in education and access to care in vulnerable populations.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 2021.

Establishment and validation of a novel nomogram to predict overall survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to establish and validate a nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM).

METHODS

A novel nomogram was constructed using 863 patients with LNM-positive NPC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Significant prognostic factors in the nomograms were determined using multivariate Cox risk analysis. The predictive capability was evaluated using calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis identified seven factors that could be used to construct the nomogram: age, pathological type, T stage, M stage, surgery of primary site, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The calibration curves and DCA demonstrated optimal agreement. Based on the nomogram, all patients could be stratified into three risk groups: low, middle, and high.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel nomogram demonstrated its potential as an individualized tool to predict OS.

Re-irradiation with Moderate Hypo-Fractionation Using Intensity Modulated Photon or Proton Radiation Therapy in Locally Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Nasopharynx

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze the treatment outcomes of locally recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients following moderate hypo-fractionation re-irradiation (re-RT).

Materials and Methods

Sixty locally recurrent NPC patients underwent hypo-fractionation re-RT. 48.3% had rT3-4, and 30.0% did keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), with or without intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), was used in 66.7% of patients.

Results

With the median follow up of 22 (2~254) months, 31 patients (51.7%) died, 38 (63.3%) developed further treatment failure, and 30 (50.0%) developed ≥Grade 3 toxicity (including seven Grade 5) at time of analysis. The 2- and 5-year rates of overall survival, local failure-free survival, and ≥Grade 3 toxicity-free survival were 57.9% and 45.8%, 64.1% and 52.5%, and 54.8% and 44.9%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, worse factors for OS were iT3-4 (p=0.010) and age at re-RT ≥53 years (p=0.003), those for LFFS were rT3-4 (p=0.022) and rN0-1 (p=0.035), and those for TFS were iT3-4 (p=0.020) and rIMRT/IMPT (p=0.030), respectively. Cumulative dose or fraction size ≥3 Gy at re-RT, however, showed no significance for OS, LFFS and TFS.

Conclusion

Current re-RT with modern RT techniques by moderate hypo-fractionation scheme seemed feasible in treating locally recurrent NPC patients.

The predictive value of serum lipids for eye metastases in male nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a tumor that is commonly found in southern China. NPC has several risk factors, such as infection with the Epstein–Barr virus. However, we know little about the risk factors for eye metastasis (EM) in male patients with NPC. Serum lipids are well recognized as risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and recent studies show that they also have a relationship with the development of NPC.

Purpose: We designed the present study to determine whether they were relevant with the development of EM in male NPC patients by detecting the levels of several serum lipids.

Methods: A total of 1140 male patients with NPC were enrolled in this retrospective study and we divided them into two groups: the metastasis (EM) group and non-eye metastasis (NEM) group. A variety of serum lipids between the two groups were tested and compared.

Results: There were statistical differences in the levels of serum TG and TC between these two groups. Binary logistic regression showed that TG and TC were independent risk factors for EM in male NPC patients with P=0.004 and P<0.001, respectively. The area under the curve of TG and TC were 0.764 and 0.681, respectively, using cutoff values of 0.975 and 3.425 mmol/l, respectively. We found that TG had higher sensitivity and specificity values with 87.5% and 62.7%, respectively, than TC which were 50.0% and 87.2%.

Conclusion: TG and TC are potential risk factors for eye metastases in male NPC patients.

Efficacy, Safety, and Correlative Biomarkers of Toripalimab in Previously Treated Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Phase II Clinical Trial (POLARIS-02)

PURPOSE

As yet, no checkpoint inhibitor has been approved to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study was aimed to evaluate the antitumor activity, safety, and biomarkers of toripalimab, a new programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor for recurrent or metastatic NPC (RM-NPC) refractory to standard chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this single-arm, multicenter phase II study, patients with RM-NPC received 3 mg/kg toripalimab once every 2 weeks via intravenous infusion until confirmed disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR). The secondary end points included safety, duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Among all 190 patients, the ORR was 20.5% with median DOR 12.8 months, median PFS 1.9 months, and median OS 17.4 months. Among 92 patients who failed at least two lines of systemic chemotherapy, the ORR was 23.9%. The ORRs were 27.1% and 19.4% in PD-L1+ and PD-L1- patients, respectively (P = .31). Patients with ≥ 50% decrease of plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA copy number on day 28 had significantly better ORR than those with < 50% decrease, 48.3% versus 5.7% (P = .0001). Tumor mutational burden had a median value of 0.95 muts/mega-base in the cohort and had no predictive value for response. Whole-exome sequencing results from 174 patients revealed that the patients with genomic amplification in 11q13 region or ETV6 genomic alterations had poor responses to toripalimab.

CONCLUSION

The POLARIS-02 study demonstrated a manageable safety profile and durable clinical response of toripalimab in patients with chemorefractory metastatic NPC. An early decrease in plasma EBV DNA copy number correlated with favorable response.

Metastatic characteristics associated with survival of synchronous metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in non-epidemic areas

INTRODUCTION

The current metastatic category (M) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a "catch-all" category, we previously successfully established a M1 subdivision system based on prognostic metastatic characteristics in epidemic areas. We aimed to figure out metastatic characteristics associated with survival outcomes of NPC in non-epidemic areas.

METHODS

A total of 428 newly diagnosed de novo metastatic NPC patients from 2010 to 2016 were analyzed from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) were used to identify independent prognostic factors for survival.

RESULTS

The most frequently involved metastatic locations were the bones (53.04%), the lungs (36.68%), the livers (29.21%) and the distant lymph nodes (24.07%). Univariate analysis indicated that bone involvement (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.09-1.77), liver involvement (HR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.12-1.85) and multiple metastatic locations (HR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.04-1.67) were negative prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) for patients with synchronous metastasis. We established a new M1 subdivision system based on metastatic characteristics: M1a, without bone and liver involvement; M1b, single bone or liver involvement; M1c, multiple metastatic locations including bone and/or liver. Multivariate analysis confirmed that our new subcategories were associated with significantly different OS (M1b vs M1a: HR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.11-2.16; M1c vs M1a: HR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.47-2.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Synchronous metastatic NPC patients with multiple metastatic locations involved bone and/or liver were prone to suffer from dismal OS and might need more attentions for selection of treatment modality.

5-year outcomes of salvage endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) can be salvaged with re-irradiation, open nasopharyngectomy, and more recently endoscopic nasopharyngectomy. However, long-term outcomes of endoscopic approaches are lacking. Thus, we report 5-year outcomes following endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for rNPC.

METHODS

Patients who underwent endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for rNPC between January 2000 and January 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included if they had their first endoscopic nasopharyngectomy at least 5 years prior to this study. Presenting (cTNM) status and recurrent (rTNM) status for each recurrence was determined. Outcomes included margin status, disease recurrence, death, and complication rates.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were included. Four patients had a prior open nasopharyngectomy. Mean time follow-up was 74.3 months (range = 56.4-96 months). Negative margins were achieved in 77% of initial cases. Positive margins were associated with higher rT stages. Re-recurrence was seen in 6 patients, which was also associated with a higher cStage and rStage. All patients with positive margins had re-recurrence. Four patients required repeat endoscopic nasopharyngectomy and two received chemoradiation. All four with a second endoscopic procedure had further disease recurrence. Five-year local disease-free and overall survival rates were 53.9 and 84.6%, respectively. The minor complication rate was 52.6%, major operative complication rate was 0.0%, and late complication rate was 23.1%.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy demonstrates promising 5-year overall survival rate for rT1 and rT2 cases of rNPC with favorable complication rates. Lower rStages were associated with a higher disease-free rate, and lower cStages were associated with improved overall prognosis. Close surveillance and prompt management of recurrences can be associated with favorable long-term tumor control.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Quality-Adjusted Life Years and Disability-Adjusted Life Years Are Better With Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy Than Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Chemoradiation Therapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Introduction As traditional measures such as overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) alone do not give a holistic view of the outcomes of a treatment paradigm, we determine to add the evidence of quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) to the outcomes of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (NCP) treated with definitive chemoradiation therapy (chemoRT) with or without induction chemotherapy (induction chemo). Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 85 NCPs treated at an academic state institution. The OS estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the multivariate Cox regression model determined the co-variables associated with the OS. The relationship between QALYs gained and DALYs saved were calculated from age of the disease onset, duration of the disease, quality of life (QoL) and disability weights. Results Of the 85 eligible NCPs of this cohort, the disease frequency distribution per the World Health Organization (WHO) classification was 41.2% for Type-I, 42.4% for Type-II, and 16.5% for Type-III. The median follow-up (24 months). The five-year OS of patients treated with concurrent chemoRT vs. induction chemo followed by concurrent chemoRT was 54.7 vs. 14.8% for WHO Type I, 60.1 vs. 58.3% for WHO Type II, and 83.3 vs. 50.0% for WHO Type III (p=0.029). The average DALYs saved with concurrent chemoRT were 12.2 years vs. 5 years for induction chemo followed by concurrent chemoRT. The average QALYs gained with concurrent chemoRT were 6.9 years vs. 3.1 years for induction chemo followed by concurrent chemoRT. Conclusion Patients treated with concurrent chemoRT had an increased QoL when compared to induction chemo followed by concurrent chemoRT. The average DALYs saved were higher in the patients treated with concurrent chemoRT than treated with induction chemo followed by concurrent chemoRT.

Pediatric nasopharyngeal cancer with repeated oligometastases involving the bone, liver and distant lymph nodes who achieved cure after radiotherapy

Systemic chemotherapy is a standard treatment for Stage IVc nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Stage IVc NPC patients with oligometastases have a better prognosis, and local therapy has an important role in further development of the disease. However, the efficacy of local therapy to the metastases in patients with multiple-site and/or multiple-organ metastases is limited due to the aggressive behavior of the tumor. We report a NPC case in a pediatric patient with repeated oligometastases involving the bone, liver and distant lymph nodes who achieved 10-year disease free status after initial chemotherapy and radiotherapy to all the metastases. This very rare case demonstrated that radiotherapy to oligometastatic lesions have a potential to cure repeated oligometastases which involved multiple-organ metastases in a pediatric NPC with stage IVc.

Treatment and outcomes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a unique non-endemic population

OBJECTIVE

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is common in Southeast Asia. Due to the influx of immigrants from this region, the incidence in British Columbia is increasing. Current literature from non-endemic populations encompasses heterogeneous cohorts. This study examines NPC in a North American population, with a high incidence, to understand the population's characteristics, treatment outcomes and recurrence patterns.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective analysis of patients treated for primary and recurrent NPC over 15-years. Regression analyses were used to identify predictors of disease recurrence and death. A subgroup analysis of the locoregional recurrence cohort was conducted. Five-year survival outcomes were determined.

RESULTS

601 patients were included. Asian ethnicity comprised 77% and the majority had non-keratinizing carcinoma (81%). In total, 19.3% of patients experienced recurrence: 58% local, 22% regional and 20% distant. Five-year overall survival was 70%. Smoking, advancing T-stage, poorer performance status and advanced overall stage were all associated with worse overall survival (p < 0.05). Asian ethnicity improved overall survival but not recurrence free survival. Similar features in addition to non-keratinizing histology were associated with increased locoregional recurrence (p < 0.05). Competing risk analysis indicated radiotherapy alone had a higher recurrence relative to chemoradiotherapy (HR 1.91, CI 1.17-3.09, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

We report the largest study evaluating treatment and outcomes of NPC in a non-endemic population. This unique population falls between described endemic and non-endemic populations. Non-keratinizing pathology and primary radiotherapy did not affect survival; however, both had a propensity for recurrence. Finally, patients experienced more locoregional and less distant recurrence, supporting that this cohort may be amenable to curative salvage therapy.

Chinese and South Asian ethnicity, immigration status and head and neck cancer outcomes: A population based study

OBJECTIVE

While it is known that certain ethnic and immigrant groups are at increased risk of developing head and neck cancer, the individual effects of immigration status and ethnicity on head and neck cancer outcomes is less clear. We sought examine the independent effects of immigration and Chinese and South Asian ethnicity on overall survival in a head and neck cancer patient population.

METHODS

This was a population-based retrospective matched cohort study using linked Ontario administrative databases between 1994 and 2017. Incident cancer cases were captured in long-standing residents of Chinese and South Asian ethnicity, Chinese and South Asian immigrants, as well as a reference population. Subjects were followed until death. A hard-matching approach was used to adjust for key differences and ensure both groups were balanced with respect to age, sex and cancer site. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the impact of Chinese and South Asian ethnicity on overall survival while further adjusting for baseline covariates.

RESULTS

Among 1639 immigrants with head and neck cancer, matched to 3278 controls, the overall 5-year survival rate was 66% and 59%, respectively. After adjusting for between group-differences, all-cause mortality was lower for immigrants (HR 0.76[95%CI 0.69-0.83]) and individuals of Chinese ethnicity (HR 0.78[95%CI 0.68-0.90]), relative to the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

In Ontario, immigrants experience lower mortality rates following a head and neck cancer diagnosis. Individuals of Chinese ethnicity with head and neck cancer experience a survival advantage, relative to South Asian individuals and the general population.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Treatment Management and Survival Outcomes in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

To comprehensively investigate nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment, overall survival (OS), and the influence of clinical/sociodemographic factors on outcome.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective database study.

SETTING

National Cancer Database.

METHODS

The 2004-2015 National Cancer Database was queried for all patients with NPC receiving definitive treatment. Log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards models were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 8260 patients with NPC were included (71.4% male; 42.5% with keratinizing histology; mean ± SD age, 52.1 ± 15.1 years), with a 5-year OS of 63.4%. Multivariate predictors of mortality included age ≥65 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; P < .001), Charlson/Deyo score ≥1 (HR, 1.27; P = .001), American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage III to IV (HR, 1.85; P < .001), and government insurance or no insurance (HR, 1.53; P < .001). Predictors of survival included female sex (HR, 0.82; P = .002), Asian/Pacific Islander race (HR, 0.74; P < .001), nonkeratinizing/undifferentiated histology (HR, 0.79; P = .004), and receiving treatment at academic centers (HR, 0.87; P = .02). Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) demonstrated improved OS as compared with radiotherapy (RT) only for stage II (P = .006) and stage III (P = .005) and with RT or chemotherapy only in stage IVA NPC (P < .001). When compared with CRT alone, surgery plus CRT provided OS benefits in keratinizing (P = .013) or stage IVA (P = .030) NPC. When compared with RT, CRT provided OS benefits in keratinizing (P = .005) but not nonkeratinizing (P = .240) or undifferentiated (P = .390) NPC. Substandard radiation dosing of <60 Gy and <30 fractions were associated with inferior OS (both P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

NPC survival is dependent on a variety of clinical/sociodemographic factors. Stage-specific treatments with optimal OS include CRT or RT for stages I to II and CRT for stage III to IV. The large representation of nonendemic histology is valuable, as these cases are not well characterized.

Subtype Specific Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Incidence and Survival Trends: Differences between Endemic and Non-Endemic Populations

BACKGROUND

While nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare in non-endemic regions such as the North America, endemic countries, such as Thailand, continue to struggle with high incidence and mortality rates. NPC has a complex etiology that varies by histological subtype.

METHODS

NPC cases (1990-2014) were identified using the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) code C11 from the Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Lampang, and Songkhla cancer registries and compared to Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PI) from the US SEER program. Age-standardized incidence rates and changes in annual percent change (APC) for overall and subtype specific NPC were assessed using R and Joinpoint. Kaplan Meier curves were generated in SAS to evaluate differences in survival by sex, year of diagnosis and histological subtype. Five-year relative survival estimates were calculated between 2000-2014.

RESULTS

Non-keratinizing NPC predominated across all registries except Songkhla, where the keretinizing subtype made up ~60% of all reported cases. Incidence of keratinizing NPC significantly decreased among Chiang Mai males between 1996 and 2014 (APC:-13.0 [95%CI:-16.2, -9.6]), Songkhla females (APC:-4.0 [95%CI: -7.4, -0.5]) and males between 2006 and 2014 (APC:-15.5 [95%CI:-25.0, -4.7]), as well as A/PI females (APC:-5.1 [95%CI:-6,7, -3.4]) and males (APC: -4.8 [95%CI:-5.9, -3.7]). Non-keratinizing NPC increased among Songkhla males (APC:4.3 [95%CI:1.8, 6.9]). The keratinizing subtype exhibited the worst survival, while the non-keratinizing undifferentiated subtype had the best survival. Although US A/PI had the highest 5-year relative survival estimates, among the Thai registries Chiang Mai had the best and Lampang the worst survival.

CONCLUSION

Although US A/PIs exhibited similar rates of NPC as seen in the endemic Thai population, improved tobacco control has led to a decrease in keratinizing NPC incidence irrespective of geography. Additionally, while challenges associate with access to care may still exist among rural Thais, chemoradiation was shown to confer a survival benefit in non-keratinizing NPC treatment.

Image-guided interstitial brachytherapy boost for keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of inferior wall of the nasopharynx

High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-ISBT) is relatively rarely applied for the head and neck cancer because of its anatomical complexity and difficulty of applicator placement. However, its dose distribution is more confined even better than intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and can deliver a higher dose while sparing surrounding normal tissues. In this case report, the effectiveness of HDR-ISBT as a boost following IMRT for keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of nasopharynx was presented. A 76-year-old female who suffered from cT3N0M0 keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx was treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy involving IMRT. However, physical examination and laryngoscope fibre finding showed evident residual tumour at 60 Gy of IMRT, then, boost HDR-ISBT was proposed. After delivering 66 Gy of IMRT, CT image-guided HDR-ISBT 4 Gy in a single fraction was performed under local anaesthesia and sedation. MRI taken 5 months after HDR-ISBT showed remarkable shrinkage of the primary tumour. After HDR-ISBT, the remaining session of IMRT was delivered from the next day until 70 Gy in 35 fractions. It was demonstrated that boost HDR-ISBT combined with IMRT for keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx was performed safely and showed favourable efficacy.

MRI-Based Deep-Learning Model for Distant Metastasis-Free Survival in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Distant metastasis is the primary cause of treatment failure in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC).

PURPOSE

To develop a model to evaluate distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in LANPC and to explore the value of additional chemotherapy to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for different risk groups.

STUDY TYPE

Retrospective.

POPULATION

In all, 233 patients with biopsy-confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from two hospitals.

FIELD STRENGTH

1.5T and 3T.

SEQUENCE

Axial T₂ -weighted (T₂ -w) and contrast-enhanced T₁ -weighted (CET₁ -w) images.

ASSESSMENT

Deep learning was used to build a model based on MRI images (including axial T₂ -w and CET₁ -w images) and clinical variables. Hospital 1 patients were randomly divided into training (n = 169) and validation (n = 19) cohorts; Hospital 2 patients were assigned to a testing cohort (n = 45). LANPC patients were divided into low- and high-risk groups according to their DMFS (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to compare the DMFS of different risk groups and subgroup analysis was performed to compare patients treated with CCRT alone and treated with additional chemotherapy to CCRT in different risk groups, respectively.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Univariate analysis was performed to identify significant clinical variables. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to assess the model performance.

RESULTS

Our deep-learning model integrating the deep-learning signature, node (N) stage (from TNM staging), plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-DNA, and treatment regimens yielded an AUC of 0.796 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.729-0.863), 0.795 (95% CI: 0.540-1.000), and 0.808 (95% CI: 0.654-0.962) in the training, internal validation, and external testing cohorts, respectively. Low-risk patients treated with CCRT alone had longer DMFS than patients treated with additional chemotherapy to CCRT (P < 0.05).

DATA CONCLUSION

The proposed deep-learning model, based on MRI features and clinical variates, facilitated the prediction of DMFS in LANPC patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE

4.

Head and Neck Cancers, Version 2.2020, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

Treatment is complex for patients with head and neck (H&N) cancers with specific site of disease, stage, and pathologic findings guiding treatment decision-making. Treatment planning for H&N cancers involves a multidisciplinary team of experts. This article describes supportive care recommendations in the NCCN Guidelines for Head and Neck Cancers, as well as the rationale supporting a new section on imaging recommendations for patients with H&N cancers. This article also describes updates to treatment recommendations for patients with very advanced H&N cancers and salivary gland tumors, specifically systemic therapy recommendations.

The Impact of Insurance and Marital Status on Survival in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective: This study aimed to explore the influence of social support on the survival outcomes of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We examined whether the combined proxy influenced whether patients were more likely to receive radiotherapy. Methodology: data were collected from the 18 registries of the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The association between both insurance status and marital status and disease-specific survival rates were evaluated with a multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model to calculate the hazard ratios and associated confidence intervals. Odds ratio (OR) computed by logistic regression was also used to examine the relationship between the receipt of radiotherapy and insurance and marital status. Results: insured and uninsured patients differed significantly in T-stage, N-stage, M-stage, radiotherapy use, race, and marital status. The uninsured-non-married patients showed the lowest 5-year disease-specific survival rates. We further found unmarried patients with either Medicaid (OR, 0.40), or no insurance (OR, 0.24) had lower odds of receiving radiotherapy than those with insurance at diagnosis. Conclusions: uninsured-unmarried NPC patients had a significantly higher risk of distant metastasis at diagnosis, poorer 5-year disease-specific survival, and were less likely to receive radiotherapy than insured-married patients.

Survival of nasopharyngeal cancer in national referral hospital of Indonesia: A study on radiotherapy patients

INTRODUCTION

Nasopharyngeal cancer in Indonesia has a poor survival rate and there is only few studies regarding nasopharyngeal cancer in Indonesia. Therefore, this study was made to present Indonesian nasopharyngeal cancer data with special focus on survival of nasopharyngeal cancer profile that receives radiation therapy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM). Moreover, survival analysis was done using Kaplan Meier, log rank and cox regression test.

RESULTS

A total of 398 patients were included with the median follow-up time of 16 (0-65) months. The 3-year survival in patients with stage I-III was >50% while the survival of 5 years was >50% only in early stage patients. The median survival for men was 46 months and for women 42 months. For OTT ≤ 49 days survival of 3 years and 5 years is 67.1%. Stage III-IVB, size N2-N3, and overall treatment time >49 days were the prognostic factors for nasopharyngeal cancer patients. After multivariate analysis, only stage III-IVB was statistically significant as a prognostic factor independent of survival.

CONCLUSION

Most of nasopharyngeal cancer patient came in advanced stage. The median time needed for patients to get radiation therapy and median OTT were good. Only stage III-IVB was statistically significant as a prognostic factor independent of survival.

Prognostic impact of immunohistopathologic features in definitive radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer patients

Our previous study by Murakami N, Mori T, Nakamura S, Yoshimoto S, Honma Y, Ueno T, Kobayashi K, Kashihara T, Takahashi K, Inaba K, Okuma K, Igaki H, Nakayama Y, Itami J. (J Radiat Res. 2019 Jul 30. pii: rrz053. doi: 10.1093/jrr/rrz053. [Epub ahead of print]) showed that strong expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was associated with radiation resistance in head and neck squamous cell cancer patients (SCC). In this study, the prognostic impact of histopathologic features including EpCAM for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients was investigated. Since 2009, our institution has performed chemoradiation for locally advanced NPC patients with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Tri-weekly adjuvant cisplatin (CDDP, 80 mg/m2) was administered concurrently with definitive radiation therapy 70 Gy in 35 fractions. One month after radiation therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy of three cycles of CDDP/5 fluorouracil (5-FU) was administered. Using a pretreatment biopsy specimen, EBV-encoded small RNA in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH), EpCAM, p16 and p53 were assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. Between May 2009 and September 2017, 51 NPC patients received definitive radiation therapy. Five, 13, 17 and 16 patients were staged as I, II, III and IV, respectively. The median follow-up period for alive patients was 31.1 months (12.4-109.7 months). Three-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and locoregional control (LRC) were 87.1, 57.1 and 85.7%, respectively. EpCAM, p16 and p53 were not associated with PFS, OS nor LRC. Three-year PFS for patients with keratinizing and non-keratinizing SCC were 25 and 60.5%, respectively (P = 0.033, hazard ratio 4.851 (95% confidence interval 1.321-17.814)).Prognosis of NPC patients with keratinizing SCC was worse than non-keratinizing SCC patients, suggesting a biological difference between the two types of tumor.

Increasing incidence of Epstein-Barr virus-related nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the United States

BACKGROUND

The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been historically low in the United States. Although etiological factors differ by histological subtype, Epstein-Barr virus is accepted as the primary risk factor for nonkeratinizing NPC. In light of the changing epidemiology of viral-associated cancers, it is important to evaluate the temporal incidence of NPC in the United States.

METHODS

Incidence and survival data from 1973 through 2015 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Stratified analyses were conducted to assess temporal trends in NPC by histological subtype, sex, and race. The data were analyzed using SAS and Joinpoint Regression Software to determine age-adjusted incidence rates, determine trends in the annual percent change, and calculate 5-year relative survival estimates and Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

Although overall NPC incidence is decreasing in the United States, the nonkeratinizing differentiated subtype is starkly increasing, with an annual percent change of approximately 4% among white males (95% CI, 2.5%-5.2%), white females (95% CI, 1.9%-6.2%), and black males (95% CI, 2.0%, 5.7%); 2.7% among black females (95% CI, 0.8%, 4.6%); and 1.8% among women in the "other" race category (95% CI, 0.4%-3.3%). Racial disparities were noted, with 32% of nonkeratinizing NPC cases among blacks occurring before the age of 40 years. In addition, black males displayed consistently worse survival across all histological subtypes, whereas individuals in the "other" race category, particularly females, experienced the highest 5-year relative survival estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results indicate that the Epstein-Barr virus-related, differentiated NPC subtype is increasing across all sexes and races in the United States, with distinct incidence and survival disparities among blacks.

Six fractions weekly as accelerated fraction radiotherapy: Is it applicable for nasopharyngeal cancer? A review

Standard therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is concurrent chemoradiation. Nevertheless, therapeutic outcomes are often unsatisfactory particularly for locally advanced stage. To enhance the therapeutic outcome, we may consider using altered fraction radiotherapy. Altered fraction radiotherapy is divided into two large groups for the therapy of NPC: hyperfraction radiotherapy and accelerated fraction radiotherapy. One of the accelerated fraction regimens suitable for NPC therapy is an accelerated regimen of six radiotherapy fractions weekly. This regimen is considered safe whether using conventional 2D planning technique or advance technique. Response to radiotherapy is better owing to the decrease in overall treatment time (OTT). Furthermore, acute or late side effects for this therapy are not very different to those of standard therapy. The conclusion is that we recommend the use of an accelerated regimen of six radiotherapy fractions weekly for locally advanced stage NPC with contraindication to concurrent chemoradiation, due to the high degree of clinical outcome as well as better tolerated side effect for NPC patients, particularly for those with locally advanced stage NPC.

The effect of histological subtypes on survival outcome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after extensive follow up

Background

No consensus exists regarding the follow-up of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients stratified by different histological subtypes. The purpose of this study was to determine the hazard function of disease-related death and assess the prognostic effect of early and late disease-related death in NPC according to histological subtypes.

Methods

We included non-metastatic NPC patients between 2004 and 2014 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER) program. Life-table methods, Kaplan-Meier methods, and a multivariate Cox regression model were used in the analysis.

Results

We identified 2,845 patients in this study including 1,218 (42.8%), 849 (29.8%), and 778 (27.3%) patients with keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (KSCC), differentiated non-keratinizing carcinoma (DNKC), and undifferentiated non-keratinizing carcinoma (UNKC), respectively. Most NPC-related death (89.8%) occurred within 5 years of diagnosis. In the entire cohort, the hazard curve for NPC-related death peaked at 2 years. It peaked at 1 year, 2- and 5-year, and 2- and 6-year in patients with KSCC, DNKC, and UNKC, respectively. Within the follow-up period over 5 years, patients with DNKC had poorer NPC-specific survival (NPC-SS) compared to UNKC, and had comparable NPC-SS between the two subtypes after more than 5 years of follow-up. Moreover, within the follow-up period of 1, 2, and 3 years, patients with KSCC experienced poorer NPC-SS compared to UNKC but there was comparable NPC-SS between KSCC and UNKC patients after more than 3 years of follow-up.

Conclusions

The hazard rate patterns for NPC-related mortality significantly differed between histological subtypes. Tailored surveillance and follow-up strategies should be designed in NPC patients according to histological subtypes.

Lymph Node Status and Outcomes for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma According to Histological Subtypes: A SEER Population-Based Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the clinical effect of histological subtypes on survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and assess the effect of nodal stage on outcome according to histological subtypes.

METHODS

Patients with non-metastatic NPC were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2014. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test, Kaplan-Meier methods, and multivariate Cox regression models.

RESULTS

We identified 2845 patients in this study including 1218 (42.8%), 849 (29.8%), and 778 (27.3%) patients with keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (KSCC), differentiated non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (DNKSCC), and undifferentiated non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (UNKSCC), respectively. The multivariate analysis indicated that patients with UNKSCC subtype had better NPC-specific survival (NPC-SS) (P < 0.001) compared to KSCC (P < 0.001) and DNKSCC (P < 0.001) patients. The 5-year NPC-SS was 75.2%, 77.9%, and 88.9% in patients with KSCC, DNKSCC, UNKSCC, respectively (P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that advanced nodal stage was related to lower NPC-SS in patients with DNKSCC and UNKSCC but not in patients with KSCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Histology is an independent prognostic factor in patients with NPC. However, advanced nodal stage is not associated with lower survival in KSCC.