Analysis of prognostic factors through survival rate analysis of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated at the National Cancer Center: 20 years of experience

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological prognostic factors affecting the survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with OSCC who received treatment at the Oral Oncology Clinic of the National Cancer Center (NCC) from June 2001 to December 2020. The patients’ sex, age, primary site, T stage, node metastasis, TNM staging, perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), differentiation, surgical resection margin, smoking, and drinking habits were investigated to analyze risk factors. For the univariate analysis, a Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test were used. Additionally, for the multivariable analysis, a Cox proportional hazard model analysis was used. For both analyses, statistical significance was considered when P<0.05. RESULTS: During the investigation period, 407 patients were received surgical treatment at the NCC. Their overall survival rate (OS) for five years was 70.7%, and the disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 60.6%. The multivariable analysis revealed that node metastasis, PNI, and differentiation were significantly associated with poor OS. For DFS, PNI and differentiation were associated with poor survival rates. CONCLUSION: In patients with OSCC, cervical node metastasis, PNI, and differentiation should be considered important prognostic factors for postoperative survival.