Blood Cadmium Level Is Associated with Short Progression-Free Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Taifeng Du, Wenlong Huang, Shukai Zheng, Mian Bao, Yuanni Huang, Anna Li, Meirong He and Kusheng Wu
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Taifeng Du: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Wenlong Huang: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Shukai Zheng: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Mian Bao: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Yuanni Huang: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Anna Li: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Meirong He: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Kusheng Wu: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: The prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is poor with disease progression. Cadmium exposure is a risk factor for NPC. We aimed to investigate the effect of cadmium exposure, by measuring cadmium level, and clinicopathologic factors on NPC disease progression and prognosis. A total of 134 NPC cases were analyzed and venous blood samples were collected. Blood cadmium level was analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Clinical data were collected at baseline for patients and tumor characteristics from medical records. Progression-free survival (PFS) was analyzed during follow-up. The effect of cadmium exposure and clinical factors on PFS was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression models. Blood cadmium level was associated with history of disease and smoking history and pack-years. On Kaplan–Meier analysis, a high blood cadmium level, male sex, smoking history and increasing pack-years, as well as advanced clinical stage were all associated with short PFS. On multivariate analysis, blood cadmium level was an independent risk factor and predictor of NPC prognosis and disease progression. Cadmium exposure and related clinical factors can affect the prognosis of NPC, which merits further study to clarify.

Keywords: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; progression-free survival time; blood cadmium levels; clinical characteristics; survival analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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