Research Article

Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience

Volume: 53 Number: 2 June 5, 2026
EN TR

Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Objective: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy originating from the epithelial layer of the nasopharynx. In our study, we aimed to investigate the factors affecting treatment response and survival in patients diagnosed with NPC. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 76 patients aged ≥18 years with a pathological diagnosis of NPC who presented to the Oncology Clinic of Dicle University Faculty of Medicine between January 2010 and May 2020. General characteristics of the patients and their effects on overall survival were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 46. There were 39 patients (51.3%) under 50 years and 37 patients (48.7%) ≥50 years. 18 were female (23.7%) and 58 were male (76.3%). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.1±5.2. 39 patients (51.3%) were smokers, and 37 patients (48.7%) were not. At the time of diagnosis, 11 patients (14.5%) were TNM Stage 2, 39 patients (51.3%) were Stage 3, and 26 patients (34.2%) were Stage 4. According to the WHO 2005 histological classification, there were 30 patients (39.5%) in Type 2A and 40 patients (52.6%) in Type 2B. There were no patients with Type 1 or Type 3 tumors. Other tumor types were detected in 6 patients (7.9%). In the survival analysis, 25 patients (32.9%) were deceased and 51 (67.1%) were alive. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a mean survival time of 108 months (95% CI = 88-128). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that advanced stage of TNM at diagnosis, low BMI, and high serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels negatively impacted survival (p=0.017, p=0.04, p=0.04, respectively). Conclusion: In NPC, the patient's TNM stage at diagnosis, BMI level, and serum LDH level may be independent prognostic risk factors.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Dicle University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee with decision number 244 dated 16.07.2020.

References

  1. 1.Gunderson L, Teper J. Clinical Radiation Oncology.Second Edition. Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia,ch 31, 2007, pp 705-26.
  2. 2.Liu MT, Hsieh CY, Chang TH, Lin JP, Huang CC,Wang AY. Prognostic factors affecting the outcomeof nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2003Oct;33(10):501-8.
  3. 3.Arthur C, Ruan H, Wang X, et al. RetrospectiveAnalysis of 5-Year Survival Rate of NasopharyngealCarcinoma: Correlation with Clinical Features andPrognosis. J Cancer Res Therap Oncol. 2019, 7: 1-16.
  4. 4.Chua MLK, Wee JTS, Hui EP, Chan ATC.Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Lancet. 2016 Mar5;387(10022):1012-24.
  5. 5.Li XY, Chen QY, Sun XS, et al. Ten-year outcomes ofsurvival and toxicity for a phase III randomised trialof concurrent chemoradiotherapy versusradiotherapy alone in stage II nasopharyngealcarcinoma. Eur J Cancer. 2019 Mar;110:24-31.
  6. 6. Blanchard P, Lee A, Marguet S, et al. Chemotherapyand radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: anupdate of the MAC-NPC meta-analysis. Lancet Oncol.2015 Jun;16(6):645-55.
  7. 7.Rodriguez-Galindo C, Krailo MD, Krasin MJ, et al.Treatment of Childhood Nasopharyngeal Carcinomawith Induction Chemotherapy and ConcurrentChemoradiotherapy: Results of the Children'sOncology Group ARAR0331 Study. J Clin Oncol. 2019Dec 10;37(35):3369-76.
  8. 8.Siti-Azrin AH, Norsa'adah B, Naing NN. Prognosticfactors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in atertiary referral hospital: a retrospective cohortstudy. BMC Res Notes. 2017 Dec 6;10(1):705.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration, Medical Education, Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Pelda Zümrüt Sevim This is me
Türkiye

Savaş Topuk This is me
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 5, 2026

Submission Date

February 5, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 6, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 53 Number: 2

APA
Zümrüt Sevim, P., Işıkdoğan, A., Alabalık, U., Topuk, S., & Urakçı, Z. (2026). Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience. Dicle Medical Journal, 53(2), 297-304. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1964092
AMA
1.Zümrüt Sevim P, Işıkdoğan A, Alabalık U, Topuk S, Urakçı Z. Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026;53(2):297-304. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1964092
Chicago
Zümrüt Sevim, Pelda, Abdurrahman Işıkdoğan, Ulas Alabalık, Savaş Topuk, and Zuhat Urakçı. 2026. “Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience”. Dicle Medical Journal 53 (2): 297-304. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1964092.
EndNote
Zümrüt Sevim P, Işıkdoğan A, Alabalık U, Topuk S, Urakçı Z (June 1, 2026) Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience. Dicle Medical Journal 53 2 297–304.
IEEE
[1]P. Zümrüt Sevim, A. Işıkdoğan, U. Alabalık, S. Topuk, and Z. Urakçı, “Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience”, Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 53, no. 2, pp. 297–304, June 2026, doi: 10.5798/dicletip.1964092.
ISNAD
Zümrüt Sevim, Pelda - Işıkdoğan, Abdurrahman - Alabalık, Ulas - Topuk, Savaş - Urakçı, Zuhat. “Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience”. Dicle Medical Journal 53/2 (June 1, 2026): 297-304. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1964092.
JAMA
1.Zümrüt Sevim P, Işıkdoğan A, Alabalık U, Topuk S, Urakçı Z. Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026;53:297–304.
MLA
Zümrüt Sevim, Pelda, et al. “Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience”. Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 53, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 297-04, doi:10.5798/dicletip.1964092.
Vancouver
1.Pelda Zümrüt Sevim, Abdurrahman Işıkdoğan, Ulas Alabalık, Savaş Topuk, Zuhat Urakçı. Prognostic Factors and Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026 Jun. 1;53(2):297-304. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1964092