[Impact of pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level on local control of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Oxygen increases tumor sensitivity to radiotherapy; tumor hypoxia is more prevalent in tumor patients with pretreatment hemoglobin concentration of < 130 g/L. This study was to evaluate impact of pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level on radiotherapy outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.


METHODS
Clinical and follow-up data of 166 NPC patients received definitive radiotherapy from 1999 to 2000 were reviewed. Pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin levels were stratified as high (> or =130 g/L) and low (< 130 g/L). Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting local control.


RESULTS
The median pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level of the 166 patients was 135 (85-189) g/L. Hemoglobin was < 130 g/L in 68 (41%) patients, and > or =130 g/L in 98 (59%) patients. The pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level of < 130 g/L was related to low 3-year local relapse-free survival rate (78% vs. 90%, P=0.015), but had no relations with distant metastasis-free survival (75% vs.77%, P=0.763) and overall survival rates (73% vs. 83%, P=0.056). Multivariate analysis showed that pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level, T stage, and gender were independent prognostic factors for local failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin of < 130 g/L is a prognostic factor for local control of NPC. Strategies for maintaining pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin of > or =130 g/L before radiotherapy and during treatment should be further explored.
Mai
Hai-Qiang
HQ
Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China.
Mo
Hao-Yuan
HY
Hong
Ming-Huang
MH
Guo
Xiang
X
Deng
Man-Quan
MQ
Zhang
Feng
F
Min
Hua-Qing
HQ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D006454:Hemoglobins