Abstract 429P
Background
Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is a rare, aggressive cancer occurring in less than 1 per 100,000 people globally. It is characterized histologically by epithelial cells with a prominent lymphoid infiltrate. Multiple primary malignancies (MPM) is a significant challenge in patients with primary lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of the head and neck. Very few articles in the literature mentioned MPMs in head and neck LEC. So, this study aimed to fill this gap and assess the risk of MPMs in head and neck LEC to provide valuable insights and guide clinical practices.
Methods
Utilizing SEER database (2000-2021), the cohort included patients diagnosed with head and neck LEC (ICD-O-3 Hist/behav: 8082/3). We calculated the standardised incidence ratio (SIR) as observed/expected (O/E), excess risk (ER) per 10,000 with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
Results
Out of 1031 patients with head and neck LEC, 89.7% developed multiple MPMs over a 10-year follow-up with an O/E of 1.75 (P<0.05, ER= 72.14). The most significant findings were observed in the oral cavity and pharynx, which had an O/E of 8.15 (P<0.05, ER=20.83). This was particularly notable in the tongue (O/E=6.39, P<0.05, ER=4.77), oropharynx (O/E=31.49, P<0.05, ER=3.26), and nasopharynx (O/E=25.97, P<0.05, ER=7.66). The respiratory system showed a significant risk for MPMs (O/E=2.68, P<0.05, ER=22.68) mainly in the lung, bronchus, trachea, and mediastinum (O/E=2.62, P<0.05, ER=20.27). Soft tissue, including the heart, had a significant O/E of 7.40, P<0.05 and ER of 3.91. The urinary system had an O/E of 2.26, P<0.05, ER=11.33. Primarily in the kidney and renal pelvis, with an O/E of 2.78, P<0.05 and ER of 6.52. There was significantly increased risk of MPMs for the endocrine system (O/E=3.82, P<0.05, ER=5.01), predominantly in the thyroid with an O/E of 4.16 (P<0.05).
Conclusions
Patients with LEC of the head and neck have a significantly higher risk of developing MPMs in multiple organ systems, necessitating diligent long-term surveillance. The statistically significant association between LEC and MPMs, particularly in the oral cavity, respiratory, and lymphatic systems, highlights the need for targeted screening and preventive measures in this high-risk population.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.