Incidence and overall survival of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the US: SEER 17, 2018-2021.

e22564 Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) in the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx represent a significant public health concern in the US. To understand current landscape of the incidence and overall survival (OS) of HNSCC, we conducted an observational study using the most recent Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC during 2018-2021 were identified in the SEER17 database. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated by sex, subsite (lip and oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx), race, ethnicity, and age. 1-year (yr) and 3-yr OS were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method by demographics, disease summary stage (localized, regional, distant) and AJCC8 stage, with follow-up by December 31, 2021. Results: A total of 122,777 new HNSCC cases were identified in the study with a median age of 67 years. Most cases were male (71.9%), white (66.3%), and non-Hispanic (93.5%). The most common disease site was lip and oral cavity (69.5%), followed by larynx (27.0%). The majority of cases presented with regional disease (51.8%). The overall age-adjusted incidence rate for HNSCC was 11.1 per 100,000 persons in 2018-2021, which was higher in males, older age groups, and Whites (Table). For HNSCC overall, 1-yr and 3-yr OS were 84.0% and 68.9%, respectively. OS was significantly higher in Whites than Blacks. OS was highest for lip and oral cavity (3-yr OS: 72.2%), followed by larynx (65.3%), oropharynx (62.9%), and lowest for hypopharynx (39.3%). By AJCC8 stage, the 3-yr OS was 87.8%, 77.1%, 66.7%, and 53.1% for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Conclusions: Our study provided the most recent epidemiology data on HNSCC and showed that the incidence and overall survival of HNSCC in the U.S. varied considerably by demographic characteristics. Addressing disparities and early detection is essential for improving survival outcomes and reducing the burden of HNSCC across diverse populations. Characteristics Age-adjusted incidence (95% CI) (1/100,000) 1-yr OS, % (95% CI) 3-yr OS, % (95% CI) Overall 11.1 (11.0 - 11.2) 84.0 (83.5 - 84.4) 68.9 (68.3 -69.6) Sex Male 17.7 (17.5 – 17.9) 84.5 (84.1 – 85.0) 69.6 (68.8 - 70.3) Female 5.3 (5.2 – 5.4) 82.1 (81.2 – 82.9) 67.0 (65.7 - 68.3) Age group <65 years 6.0 (6.0 - 6.1) 87.6 (87.1 - 88.1) 73.8 (73.0 - 74.6) ≥65 years 46.4 (45.8 – 46.9) 79.7 (79.0 – 80.4) 63.2 (62.2 - 64.1) Race Whites 12.1 (12.0 – 12.2) 84.7 (84.3 – 85.2) 70.2 (69.5 – 70.9) Blacks 9.0 (8.7 – 9.3) 75.2 (73.6 – 76.8) 55.1 (52.8 – 57.3) Summary Stage localized 3.5 (3.5 – 3.6) 93.0 (92.5 – 93.5) 80.6 (79.5 - 81.6) Regional 5.7 (5.7 – 5.8) 85.1 (84.5 – 85.6) 70.7 (69.9 – 71.5) Distant 1.3 (1.3 – 1.4) 61.4 (59.8 – 62.9) 38.2 (36.3 - 40.1)