Predictors of Survival After Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in South America: The InterCHANGE Study.

PURPOSE: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) incidence is high in South America, where recent data on survival are sparse. We investigated the main predictors of HNSCC survival in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia. METHODS: Sociodemographic and lifestyle information was obtained from standardized interviews, and clinicopathologic data were extracted from medical records and pathologic reports. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Of 1,463 patients, 378 had a larynx cancer (LC), 78 hypopharynx cancer (HC), 599 oral cavity cancer (OC), and 408 oropharynx cancer (OPC). Most patients (55.5%) were diagnosed with stage IV disease, ranging from 47.6% for LC to 70.8% for OPC. Three-year survival rates were 56.0% for LC, 54.7% for OC, 48.0% for OPC, and 37.8% for HC. In multivariable models, patients with stage IV disease had approximately 7.6 (LC/HC), 11.7 (OC), and 3.5 (OPC) times higher mortality than patients with stage I disease. Current and former drinkers with LC or HC had approximately 2 times higher mortality than never-drinkers. In addition, older age at diagnosis was independently associated with worse survival for all sites. In a subset analysis of 198 patients with OPC with available human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 data, those with HPV-unrelated OPC had a significantly worse 3-year survival compared with those with HPV-related OPC (44.6% v 75.6%, respectively), corresponding to a 3.4 times higher mortality. CONCLUSION: Late stage at diagnosis was the strongest predictor of lower HNSCC survival. Early cancer detection and reduction of harmful alcohol use are fundamental to decrease the high burden of HNSCC in South America.

A exposição ocupacional como fator de risco no câncer de cavidade oral e orofaringe no Estado de Goiás / The occupational exposition as a risk factor in oral and oropharyngeal cancer in the State of Goiás

Introdução: Estudos dos fatores de risco para os cânceres de boca e orofaringe constituem-se em relevante ferramenta para políticas de promoção e prevenção da saúde. Alguns fatores, como o tabagismo e o etilismo, são amplamente estudados; outros, como a ocupação, carecem de mais estudos. Objetivos: Verificar os fatores de riscos associados ao câncer de boca e orofaringe. Métodos: Estudo caso-controle multicêntrico entre o RCBP-Goiânia e a IARC. Os casos foram selecionados no Serviço de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital Araújo Jorge, Goiânia. Os controles foram pacientes de dois hospitais da Rede Pública Estadual de Saúde, não especializados em Oncologia, em Goiânia. Foram avaliadas as exposições, classificadas conforme a descrição do IARC (1987). Foram utilizados os testes de qui-quadrado e o teste T de Student, quando aplicáveis. A associação entre a variável dependente (câncer) e as variáveis independentes (as exposições aos agentes carcinogênicos) foi estimada pelo cálculo da OR bruta e da ajustada por tabagismo, por etilismo e por origem de residência, com IC de 95%. Resultados: Foram selecionados 200 (41,8%) pacientes considerados casos e 279 controles (58,2%). A análise multivariada demonstrou que a fumaça de cromatos, os pigmentos, os pó de algodão, o aerosol de animais, os pesticidas e a poeira de madeira foram fatores de risco independentes para o câncer de boca e orofaringe. Conclusão: A exposição ocupacional às substâncias carcinogênicas em ambientes de trabalho também são fatores de risco para o câncer de boca e orofaringe; portanto, a adoção de uma política de prevenção pelos órgãos fiscalizadores do trabalho, bem como campanhas mais efetivas contra o hábito de fumar e o uso de bebidas alcoólicas podem promover a redução desse tipo de câncer em grandes populações.

Introduction: Researches about the risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancer constitute in a relevant tool for politics of health promotion and prevention. Some factors as tobacco smoking and alcohol are widely studied; others such as occupation ask for further research. Objective: To verify the risk factors associated to oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Methods: a prospective multicentric case-control between RCBP- Goiânia and IARC. The cases were selected from the Head and Neck Service at Araújo Jorge Hospital, Goiânia. The controls were patients from two public hospitals not specialized in Oncology, in Goiânia. The expositions classified according to IARC's description (1987) were evaluated. The chi-squared test and Student's T test were used, when applicable. The association between the dependent variable (cancer) and the independent variables of exposition to the carcinogenic agents were estimated by calculating the gross OR and adjusted by tobacco smoking, alcohol and residence origin with a 95% IC. Results: 200 patients (41.8%) considered cases and 279 (58.2%) controls were selected. The multivariated analysis showed that chromate smoke, pigments, cotton powder, animals' aerosol, pesticides and wood dust were independent risk factors to oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Conclusion: The occupational exposition to carcinogenic substances in work environment are risk factors to oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Therefore, the adoption of prevention politics by the work controlling agencies, as well as more effective campaigns against the smoking habit and the use of alcoholic beverages may promote the reduction of this kind of cancer in large populations.