The importance of smoking status at diagnosis in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer

Background: Smoking status at point of diagnosis is not used in defining risk groups for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) despite its prognostic value in head and neck cancer. Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients treated with chemoradiotherapy between January 2005 and July 2017 was performed with multivariable analysis to explore the impact of smoking status at diagnosis (current/former/never) on overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Median follow-up was 61 months. Four hundred and four patients were included. Current smokers had inferior OS versus never and former smokers [adjusted HR 2.37 (95% CI 1.26-4.45, p < 0.01) and 2.58 (95% CI 1.40-4.73, p < 0.01), respectively] and inferior PFS versus never smokers [adjusted HR 1.83 (95% CI 1.00-3.35, p = 0.04)]. Smoking status did not predict for CSS. Conclusion: Detailed smoking behavior should be considered in refining risk groups in HPV-associated OPC treated with radiotherapy and in future trial design eligibility and stratification.

Automated summary

The study found that current smokers with HPV-associated OPC had poorer overall survival and progression-free survival compared to never and former smokers, but smoking status did not predict cancer-specific survival.