Table 1 Patient and disease characteristics
Characteristic | All patients (n = 310) | pPEG (n = 175) | nPEG or rPEG (n = 135) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age at first diagnosis, years | ||||
 Median (range) | 61 (20–94) | 62 (20–83) | 61 (40–94) | ns |
 ≤ 60, n (%) | 139 (44) | 75 (43) | 64 (47) | ns |
 > 60– ≤ 70, n (%) | 111 (36) | 36 (37) | 47 (35) | ns |
 > 70– ≤ 80, n (%) | 45 (15) | 32 (18) | 13 (10) | .035 |
 > 80, n (%) | 15 (5) | 4 (2) | 11 (8) | .029 |
Sex, n (%) | ||||
 Female | 75 (24) | 129 (74) | 106 (79) | ns |
 Male | 235 (76) | 46 (26) | 29 (21) | ns |
ECOG performance status, n (%) | ||||
 0 | 112 (36) | 56 (32) | 56 (43) | ns |
 1 | 153 (50) | 87 (50) | 66 (50) | ns |
 2/3 | 40 (14) | 30 (18) | 9 (7) | .006 |
 Missing, n | 5 | 1 | 4 | na |
 Median (range) baseline BMI, kg/m2 | 24.9 (16.8–38.7) | 24.9 (16.8–38.6) | 24.9 (17.6–36.8) | ns |
Body weight loss during RT, CTCAE grade, n (%) | ||||
 0 | 135 (47) | 92 (55) | 43 (36) | .002 |
 1 | 87(30) | 48 (29) | 39 (33) | ns |
 2 | 62 (22) | 26 (15) | 36 (30) | .004 |
 3 | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | ns |
 Missing, n | 24 | 8 | 16 | na |
Smoking habits | ||||
 Never smoker | 34 (13) | 21 (13) | 13 (12) | ns |
 Ex-smoker | 75 (29) | 47 (30) | 28 (26) | ns |
 Current smoker | 153 (58) | 87 (56) | 66 (62) | ns |
 Missing, n | 48 | 20 | 28 | na |
Tobacco use, pack-years | ||||
 Median (range) | 40 (0–150) | 40 (0–150) | 40 (0–120) | ns |
 > 40 (i.e. above median), n (%) | 100 (44) | 65 (46) | 35 (41) | ns |
 Missing, n | 83 | 34 | 49 | ns |
Alcohol abuse, n (%) | ||||
 No | 85 (33) | 54 (35) | 31 (31) | ns |
 In the past | 23 (9) | 15 (10) | 8 (8) | ns |
 Yes | 147 (58) | 85 (55) | 62 (61) | ns |
 Missing, n | 55 | 21 | 34 | na |
Tumor localization, n (%) | ||||
 Oral cavity | 63 (20) | 36 (21) | 27 (20) | ns |
 Oropharynx | 149 (48) | 77 (44) | 72 (53) | ns |
 Hypopharynx | 44 (14) | 33 (19) | 11 (8) | .008 |
 Larynx | 39 (13) | 16 (9) | 23 (17) | ns |
 Multi-compartemental | 15 (5) | 13 (7) | 2 (2) | .016 |
Tumor category, n (%) | ||||
 T1 | 25 (8) | 9 (5) | 16 (12) | .036 |
 T2 | 95 (31) | 42 (24) | 53 (39) | .004 |
 T3 | 102 (33) | 59 (34) | 43 (32) | ns |
 T4 | 88 (28) | 65 (37) | 23 (17) | < .001 |
Nodal category, n (%) | ||||
 N0 | 36 (12) | 17 (10) | 19 (14) | ns |
 N1 | 55 (18) | 21 (12) | 34 (25) | .004 |
 N2 | 206 (66) | 128 (73) | 77 (57) | .003 |
 N3 | 11 (4) | 9 (5) | 5 (4) | ns |
UICC stage (7th edition), n (%) | ||||
 III | 65 (21) | 22 (13) | 43 (32) | < .001 |
 IVA | 228 (74) | 142 (81) | 86 (64) | < .001 |
 IVB | 17 (5) | 11 (6) | 6 (4) | ns |
Surgical interventions, n (%) | ||||
 Primary oncologic resection | 78 (25) | 42 (27) | 36 (27) | ns |
 Neck dissection | 214 (69) | 121 (69) | 93 (69) | ns |
PEG tube placement, n (%) | ||||
 Prophylactic | 175 (56) | 175 (100) | 0 (0) | na |
 Reactive | 34 (11) | 0 (0) | 34 (25) | na |
 None | 101 (33) | 0 (0) | 101 (75) | na |
Median (range) duration of PEG dependency, days | 266 (4–2969) | 274 (40–2969) | 231 (4–2554) | < .001 |
Chemotherapy, n (%) | ||||
 Concomitant | 266 (86) | 161 (92) | 105 (78) | < .001 |
 Neoadjuvant | 33 (11) | 21 (12) | 12 (9) | ns |