Prognostic factor analysis in patients with early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the USA

Aim: To evaluate independent risk factors specific for early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: A total of 566 patients with early-stage NPC from 2004 to 2019 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Results: Older ages (70-79 and >80 years) were independent risk factors, with hazard ratios of 1.961 and 5.011, respectively. The hazard ratio for early-stage NPC in Asian and Pacific Islander residents (0.475) was lower than that for White residents. A tumor size <3 cm was a protective factor for overall and cancer-specific survival in the current study. Conclusion: In patients with early-stage NPC, age >70 years, race and tumor size were independent prognosticators for cancer-specific survival.