THE SECOG TRIALS IN ADVANCED HEAD AND NECK CANCER 2. THE INFLUENCE OF KNOWN PROGNOSTIC FACTORS ON OUTCOME

The influence of various prognostic factors has been assessed on the outcome of patients randomised into two trials of combined modality treatment in previously untreated head and neck cancer. Patients were randomised to receive either synchronous or sequential chemotherapy (VBM or VBMF was also allocated by randomisation) with a course of radical radiotherapy. A total of 463 patients were entered although 60 of these were in a radiotherapy alone arm which was included in the second trial. Analyses of the 403 chemotherapy treated patients shows that nodal status (p = 0.001) and age (p = 0.002) are two of the most important prognostic factors for patients in these trials. The site of the primary tumour is also important, not only in determining both disease-free survival and overall survival but also in the likelihood of patients having a better response to the four drug chemotherapy than the 3 drug regimen. The size of the primary tumour had some influence on overall survival (p = 0.07) but the sex of the patient did not seem affect the outcome.