A 5-Year Multicenter Clinical Experience In Local And Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma From A Non-Endemic Region: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is an endemic disease in certain geographic regions. This study was undertaken to identify long-term outcome data and prognostic factors for current treatment options in a non-endemic area such as Turkey. One-hundred and thirty-two patients with local and locally advanced disease treated in three distinct oncology units in Turkey between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Median duration of follow-up for OS was 68.9 months, respectively. A comparison of adjuvant and induction therapy for locally advanced (Stage 3 and 4a) disease showed a 5-year DFS of 85.5% vs. 76.4%, respectively (p= 0.360). The 5-year OS for adjuvant and induction therapy were 86.4% vs. 91.7, respectively (p=0.569). When factors affecting OS were examined, visceral recurrence was significantly associated with shorter survival (HR: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.014-0.3, p< 0.001). With regards to DFS, N2-3 status (HR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.2-6.69, p= 0.017) and stage 3-4a disease (HR: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.01.-11.1, p= 0.047) were associated with earlier recurrence. 5-year OS and DFS outcomes of our patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were consistent with the published data. Our results showed that N2-3 disease was a poor prognostic indicator for DFS; on the other hand, visceral metastasis and recurrence were poor prognostic indicators for OS.