title: [Multivariate analysis for prognostic predictors in the cN0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is controversy in therapy strategy for the cN0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. The aim of this study was to explore the relative factors of prognosis for the cN0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and to identify the risk population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cox regression model was used to analyze the clinical data of 109 patients with cN0 tongue cancer treated in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University from January 1990 to March 1998. The prognostic index (PI) of the patients was calculated on basis of the results of multivariate analysis. According to the individualized PI, the patients were classified to different hazard groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3, 5 years survival rates were 74.40%and 69.31%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the prognosis statistically correlated with T grade, therapy manner of primary tumor, differentiation grade, age, and occult neck lymph node metastasis. T stage was found to be the most important prognostic factor. The prognosis of the patients in comprehensive therapy group is better than that in surgery alone group, chemotherapy alone,or radiotherapy alone group. The patients with tongue carcinoma in low differentiation group, the older group, or occult neck lymph node metastasis group showed a poor prognosis. The patients were divided into high-risk group,moderate-risk group, and low-risk group according to the PI value and there was significant difference in the survival rates between each two groups of the three groups (P< 0.05), and the 5-year survival rates were 83.33%, 64.12%, and 27.65%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis of cN0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is associated with T grade, therapy manner of primary tumor, differentiation grade, age, and occult neck lymph node metastasis. PI value could be used to predict the prognosis of the patients with the cN0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-senUniversity, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, PR China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zong-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Fu-Jin
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guang-Pu
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guo-Hao
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhu-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology