Abstract
Purpose/Objective
Patients with Human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC) have been shown to have a favorable prognosis and excellent overall survival, and studies have demonstrated these findings in predominantly White cohorts. Racial/ethnic (R/E) minorities, particularly Black patients, with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have worse survival outcomes compared to White patients. In this study, we aimed to determine if Black patients with HPV-OPSCC have a similar favorable prognosis to the White population.
Methods
his was a population based retrospective cohort study that analyzed HNSCC patients using the National Cancer Database from 2010-2016. We identified patients with Stage I-IV HPV-associated OPSCC who were treated with radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination of modalities. Patient outcomes were stratified by R/E groups including White Versus Black patients. The main outcome in this study was overall survival (OS). Analyses for proportions of categorical variables were performed using a Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact test. Univariate and multivariate time-to-event survival analyses were performed using Kaplan Meier product limit estimates and log-rank test to test the differences between strata. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between covariates and risk of death (OS).
Results
We identified 9,256 OPSCC patients who met inclusion criteria and were treated between 2010-2016, of which 7,912 were white (85.5%) and 1,344 were Black (14.5%). 1,727 were HPV-OPSCC, of which 1598 were White (92.5%) and 129 (7.5%) were Black. By race, the 5-year OS for White Vs Black OPSCC patients was 42% versus 23%, respectively (log-rank, p<0.0001). Among HPV-Positive OPSCC patients, the 5-year OS for White vs Black patients was 65% versus 39% (log-rank, p<0.0001). Among HPV negative patients the 5-year OS for White vs Black patients was 36% versus 13% (log-rank, p<0.0001). On multivariate analysis, after accounting for age, sex, insurance status, income, Charlson-Deyo score, receipt of surgery, distance from facility, and total treatment time, Black race trended towards, but was not associated with worse survival. (HR:1.24, 95% CI 0.85-1.81, p=0.255)
Conclusions
This national cohort study of OPSCC patients demonstrates that Black patients with HPV-OPSCC have a poor prognosis and overall survival similar to HPV-negative White patients. This may be partly due to socioeconomic barriers such as insurance and income. Further work is needed to better understand the specific drivers of inferior survival outcomes in this specific patient population.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
