Long-term survival of 1035 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Long-term results of 1035 previously untreated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma seen at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, between March 14, 1958 and March 15, 1968 are presented. Of the 1035 patients, 715 were treated with radiation therapy; 281 patients did not receive radiation therapy; and 39 patients whose records were lost. The patients were further subdivided according to the dose of radiation therapy (greater than 4000 rad versus less than 4000 rad), the presence or absence of pathologic confirmation of diagnosis, whether or not follow-up was complete, and whether or not distant metastases developed during treatment. All patients are included in the analysis. The 5-year and 10-year absolute survival rates for the entire group of 1035 patients are 19.6% and 14.5%, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year relative survival rates for the 715 patients who received radiation therapy are 28.4% and 21.0%, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year relative survival rates of the 464 with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis, who were without evidence of distant metastases and who received at least 4000 rad were 34.7% and 25.4%, respectively. Details regarding our statistical methods as well as an exact breakdown of the patient population are presented.