Clinicopathologic Factors and Outcomes of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in the Oropharynx: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB)

Background: Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the oropharynx are rare, aggressive neoplasms. This study assessed clinicopathologic factors and treatment outcomes using data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with oropharyngeal NEC's was conducted using NCDB data from 2004 to 2021. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with reported p16 or HPV status. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze overall survival (OS). Results: One hundred twenty-eight patients were included. Three-year OS was 42.2% and 5-year OS was 31.3%. Advanced nodal disease was independently associated with poorer OS. There was no significant OS difference when comparing treatment modalities within the entire cohort. Within the HPV subgroup (n = 87), HPV-positivity bore no significant impact on 3-year (p = 0.298) or 5-year OS (p = 0.473). Conclusion: OS in NEC of the oropharynx is relatively poor. Advanced nodal disease portends a worse prognosis. HPV status does not appear to bear a significant prognostic impact in these cancers. Level of Evidence: IV.