title: Validation of a new prognostic index score for disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma have variable survival outcomes. We previously designed a scoring system to better prognosticate these patients. Here, we report results on validation of this new prognostic index score in a separate cohort of patients. Clinical features and laboratory parameters were examined in 172 patients with univariate and multivariate analyses and a numerical score was derived for each independent prognostic variable. Significant independent prognostic variables and their scores assigned included poor performance status (score 5), haemoglobin < 12 g dl(-1) (score 4) and disease-free interval (DFI) (DFI < or = 6 months (score 10) or metastases at initial diagnosis (score 1)). Maximum score was 19 and patients stratified into three prognostic groups: good, 0-3; intermediate, 4-8; poor, > or = 9. When applied to a separate cohort of 120 patients, 59 patients were good, 43 intermediate and 18 poor prognosis, with median survivals of 19.6 (95% CI 16.1, 23.1), 14.3 (95% CI 12.3, 16.2) and 7.9 (95% CI 6.6, 9.2) months, respectively. (logrank test: P = 0.003). We have validated a new prognostic score with factors readily available in the clinics. This simple score will prove useful as a method to prognosticate and stratify patients as well as to promote consistent reporting among clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
authors.forename: C-K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Y-K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: S-S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: E-H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents