Nasopharynx cancer in the United States: Racial and ethnic disparities in stage at presentation Journal Article


Authors: Dee, E. C.; Wang, S.; Ho, F. D. V.; Patel, R. R.; Lapen, K.; Wu, Y.; Yang, F.; Patel, T. A.; Feliciano, E. J. G.; McBride, S. M.; Lee, N. Y.
Article Title: Nasopharynx cancer in the United States: Racial and ethnic disparities in stage at presentation
Abstract: Introduction: Although nasopharynx cancer (NPC) is rare in the United States, global epidemiology varies greatly. Therefore, understanding NPC disparities in the diverse US setting is critical. Methods and Materials: Data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB, 2004-2021) identified patients with NPC; NCDB allows disaggregation by Asian American (AA) subgroups. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors defined adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Results: Of 15,862 patients, 11,173 (70.4%) were male (median age 59). Commonest groups included 10,034 (63.3%) White, 2,272 (14.3%) Black, 1,103 (7.0%) Chinese, 442 (2.8%) Filipino, and 338 (2.1%) Vietnamese patients. Prior to disaggregation, the proportion of stage IV disease at presentation was 43.2% among White (ref), 50.0% among Black (aOR 1.12, p = 0.012), 52.0% among Native American (aOR 1.18, p > 0.05), 41.9% among AA (aOR 0.97, p > 0.05), and 55.1% among Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander patients (aOR 1.47, p = 0.021). Upon disaggregation, the proportion of stage IV disease was the greatest (>50%) among Black (50.0%, aOR 1.12, p = 0.012), Laotian (61.5%, aOR 2.21, p = 0.001), Hmong (73.2%, aOR 2.92, p < 0.001), and Other Pacific Islander patients (60.9%, aOR 1.83, p = 0.004); 44.2% of Filipino patients also presented with stage IV disease (aOR 1.21, p = 0.033). Odds of presenting with advanced stage disease were lower among Chinese patients (35.7% stage IV, aOR 0.72, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although most NPC patients were Chinese, White, or Black, stage IV disease at presentation was most common among Hmong, Laotian, non-Hawaiian Pacific Islander, and Black patients. Efforts are needed to improve awareness of NPC among less canonically affected groups. Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 135:1113–1119, 2025. © 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.
Keywords: health services; head and neck cancer; nasopharynx cancer; racial disparities; nasopharyngeal cancer; cancer disparities
Journal Title: Laryngoscope
Volume: 135
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0023-852X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2025-03-01
Start Page: 1113
End Page: 1119
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/lary.31907
PUBMED: 39548864
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledge in the PDF -- Corresponding authors is MSK author: Nancy Y. Lee -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Nancy Y. Lee
    871 Lee
  2. Sean Matthew McBride
    293 McBride
  3. Kaitlyn Ann Lapen
    38 Lapen
  4. Yingzhi Wu
    6 Wu
  5. Edward Christopher Dee
    253 Dee
  6. Roshal Patel
    12 Patel
  7. Fan Yang
    5 Yang