Prognostic factors of elderly nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a report of 134 cases

Objective To analyze the prognostic factors affecting long-term results in the elderly patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) . Methods From Jaunary 2004 to Jaunary 2007,134 newly diagnosed patients with NPC aged 61-76 years old were treated in our hospital. The prognostic factors were investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate and cancer specific survival rate of the 134 elderly patients with NPC was 66. 7% ,41. 7% and 72. 5% ,53. 1% ,respectively. The clinical stage,T stage,N stage,radiotherapy interruption,local tumor and regional neck lymph nodes response,anaemia,combined chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors of survival rates by single factor analysis(P 0. 05) . Multivariate analysis showed that clinical stage,radiotherapy interruption,regional neck lymph nodes response,anaemia were independent risk factors. Conclusions Radiotherapy is an effective way to treat aged patients with NPC. Clinical stage,radiotherapy interruption,anaemia and regional neck lymph nodes response can affect the prognosis of aged patients with NPC.