No survival benefit in never-smoker never-drinker patients with oral cavity cancer

BackgroundAlthough strongly associated with tobacco and alcohol use, many oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) cases occur in patients without exposure to either, known as never-smoker, never-drinkers (NSND). We aimed to compare clinical outcomes between NSND and tobacco/alcohol-exposed populations and to define demographic characteristics of NSND. MethodsWe performed a retrospective, single-institution cohort study of 672 OCSCC patients. Cox models were used to estimate differences in overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) between NSND and tobacco/alcohol-exposed patients while adjusting for confounders. ResultsNSND represented 25.6% of our cohort and were older, more female, and more economically advantaged. Among NSND, oral tongue tumors dominated in younger patients, while alveolar ridge tumors dominated in elderly patients. Multivariate survival analysis revealed no differences in OS or RFS between NSND and tobacco/alcohol-exposed patients. ConclusionWhen adjusted for independent biologic features, clinical outcomes in OCSCC are similar between NSND and tobacco/alcohol-exposed patients.

Automated summary

Clinical outcomes in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) who have never smoked or drunk alcohol are similar to those who have had tobacco and alcohol exposure, when adjusted for independent biological features.