Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the head and neck: a SEER analysis of prognostic factors for survival

• Published in: Journal of international medical research Vol. 51; no. 1; p. 3000605221148895
• Main Authors: Wei, Jing, Deng, Hui, Wu, Lihua, Song, Jianbo, Zhang, Junping, Yang, Wenhui, Zhang, Mengxian, Zhen, Hongtao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2023; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Chemotherapy; Epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy; Humans; Medical prognosis; Neoplasm Staging; Nomograms; Prognosis; Radiation therapy; Retrospective Clinical Research Report; Retrospective Studies; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - pathology; Survival analysis; Lymphoepithelial carcinoma; restricted mean survival time; overall survival; radiotherapy; cancer-specific survival; nomogram; chemotherapy
• ISSN: 0300-0605; 1473-2300
• DOI: 10.1177/03000605221148895

Objective To explore the epidemiological characteristics of patients with lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of the head and neck and the prognostic factors. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of cases of head and neck LEC retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were employed to assess overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to construct Cox regression models. We established nomograms to predict OS and CSS among patients with nasopharyngeal LEC, who were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the OS nomograms to compare the effects of treatment using the restricted mean survival time (RMST). Results The 5-year OS and CSS rates of the cohort were 70.8% and 74.8%, respectively. Advanced age, unmarried status, black race, distant metastasis, and the absence of surgical treatment were significantly associated with decreased survival rates. RMST did not differ between the combined treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and radiotherapy monotherapy groups, but chemotherapy alone displayed poor efficacy. Conclusions Head and neck LEC is associated with a favorable prognosis. Radiotherapy plays a significant role in managing patients with nasopharyngeal LEC, which is influenced by multiple prognostic factors.