Negative Prognostic Impact of Smoking on Long-term Survival in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Curative (Chemo)radiotherapy.

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of curative (chemo)radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to identify prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes. We conducted a retrospective study of 73 consecutive patients, treated with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy from 2002 to 2019 (median stage III/IV 78%). The median total dose of radiotherapy achieved was 70 Gy. Concomitant chemotherapy was given to 82% of patients. The five- and ten-year locoregional controls were 73% and 72%, respectively; the five- and ten-year distant controls were 93% and 93%, respectively. The five- and ten-year overall survival rates were 46% and 34%, respectively. A multivariate analysis identified age, smoking, and the initial response to treatment as the strongest prognostic factors in predicting survival. Smoking ≤5 years before starting curative (chemo)radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma was shown to be an independent negative prognostic factor for overall survival with a four-fold higher risk of death compared to non-smokers.