[The prognostic role of age in oral cancer. A clinical study]

The problem of malignant tumors developing in a young age is a topic of special importance and subject of intensive research. The occurrence of oral cavity tumors shows a decreasing trend worldwide, while the incidences of oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed at young adulthood is increasing. The etiology of tumors developing in young age is not yet fully understood, however, it can be stated that the usual high-risk behavioral patterns (i.e. smoking and alcohol abuse) play only a minor role in this patient group, if any. Our own observations indicate a higher regional and locoregional relapse for these patients and, although they turn for help early, at an early stage of the disease, a lower chance of survival. The target of our research was to analyze the differences in certain etiological, pathological and clinical parameters of our own patient group consisting of both young and older patients. The data of 105 young (<50 years) and, as a control group, 105 older (>50 years) patients were analyzed. The patients have undergone surgery and, if necessary, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The tumor-specific survival was determined at 36 months. Our study aimed at understanding the relationship between the clinical prognostic factors (stage, localization, anamnestic time), smoking habits, gender and age of the patients. Relationship between cancer occurrence (local, locoregional relapse) and survival rate, as well as age and survival rate were analyzed. We found that young patients report themselves for treatment at an early stage. Smoking and alcohol abuse were considerably less. When a relapse occurs, it occurs more frequently and earlier than at older patients. The most decisive correlation was observed between age and anamnestic time, age and number of cigarettes smoked, age and time elapsed until relapse, as well as age and cancer-specific survival. Moreover, cancer-specific survival of patients younger than 50 years of age was found significantly shorter than in the control group.