Prognostic Factors and Treatment Outcome of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with Bone Metastases

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with bone metastases. A total of 72 NPC patients with bone metastases were treated in Salah Azaiz Cancer Institute between 2000 and 2012. Of the 72 patients, 33 patients had synchronous bone metastasis and 39 had metachronous bone metastasis. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. The 2- and 5- year survival rates of the 72 patients were 45.4 % and 21.7 %, respectively. The median survival was 23 months (range 2–144 months). Univariate analysis showed that the patients with synchronous bone metastasis had significantly poorer overall survival (OS) than that of the patients with metachronous bone metastasis (14 vs. 28 months, P=0.004). The use of biphosphonate therapy was a prognostic factor of NPC with bone metastasis. Patients with only single bone metastases had better survival. Our study revealed that the time of metastases and the use of biphosphonates were prognostic factors associated with better OS. Curative treatment should be considered for patients with single bone metastasis.