Pretreatment body mass index and head and neck cancer outcome: A review of the literature

Dide den Hollander; Ellen Kampman; Carla M L van Herpen

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.06.002

Pretreatment body mass index and head and neck cancer outcome: A review of the literature

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2015 Nov;96(2):328-38. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.06.002. Epub 2015 Jun 18.

Authors

Dide den Hollander¹, Ellen Kampman², Carla M L van Herpen³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
² Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: carla.vanherpen@radboudumc.nl.

PMID: 26117315
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.06.002

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity defined as BMI≥25kg/m(2) is increasing, also among head and neck cancer patients. It is unknown whether the presence of high BMI influences disease-related mortality, overall survival and recurrence in these patients.

Methods: We reviewed available literature using Pubmed and Web of Science. Human observational studies were included if they reported the impact of high BMI on mortality, recurrence or survival for head and neck cancer.

Results: Eleven full articles and two abstracts met the inclusion criteria: six prospective and seven retrospective cohort studies, which comprised 8.306 patients. Patients with higher BMI had increased overall survival and decreased disease-related mortality and recurrence rate compared with underweight and normal weight patients. Most studies were adjusted for potentially confounding variables, such as stage of disease and smoking habits.

Conclusion: High BMI is associated with a better outcome in head and neck cancer.

Keywords: Body mass index; Head neck cancer; Mortality; Outcome; Survival.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Body Mass Index*
Head and Neck Neoplasms / complications*
Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality*
Humans
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / epidemiology
Obesity / complications*
Overweight
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies