Table 1 Patient characteristics

Age, median (range)

62 (24–79)

62 (24–76)

61 (42–79)

0.288

Sex, n (%)

 Male

63 (80.8)

27 (73.0)

36 (87.8)

 Female

15 (19.23)

10 (27.0)

5 (12.2)

0.097

ECOG PS, n (%)

 0

19 (24.4)

8 (21.6)

11 (26.8)

 1

58 (74.4)

28 (75.7)

30 (73.2)

 2

1 (1.3)

1 (2.7)

0 (0.0)

0.601*

Location, n (%)

 Oropharynx

47 (60.3)

19 (51.4)

28 (68.3)

 Hypopharynx

19 (24.4)

11 (29.7)

8 (19.5)

 Larynx

3 (3.9)

2 (5.4)

1 (2.4)

 Oral cavity

5 (6.4)

4 (10.8)

1 (2.4)

 Nasal cavity/PNS

1 (1.3)

0 (0.0)

1 (2.4)

 Others

3 (3.9)

1 (2.7)

2 (4.9)

0.364*

Pathology, n (%)

 Undifferentiated SCC

2 (2.6)

2 (5.4)

0 (0.0)

 Poorly differentiated SCC

13 (16.7)

4 (10.8)

9 (22.0)

 Moderately differentiated SCC

20 (25.6)

7 (18.9)

13 (31.7)

 Well differentiated SCC

7 (9.0)

6 (16.2)

1 (2.4)

 Nonkeratinizing carcinoma

1 (1.3)

1 (2.7)

18 (43.9)

 Unknown/not specified SCC

35 (44.9)

17 (45.6)

0 (0.0)

0.058*

TNM Stage, n (%)

 III

23 (29.5)

8 (21.6)

15 (36.6)

 IVA

54 (69.2)

29 (78.4)

25 (61.0)

 IVB

1 (1.3)

0 (0.0)

1 (2.4)

0.140*

IC, n (%)

50 (64.1)

25 (67.6)

25 (61.0)

 FP

4 (5.1)

3 (8.1)

1 (2.4)

 DFP

16 (20.5)

6 (16.2)

10 (24.4)

 DP

26 (33.3)

14 (37.8)

12 (29.3)

 DP + cetuximab

4 (5.1)

2 (5.4)

2 (4.9)

0.544

CRT regimen, n (%)

 Cisplatin

71 (91.0)

33 (89.2)

38 (92.7)

 Cetuximab

3 (3.9)

1 (2.7)

2 (4.9)

 Cisplatin + cetuximab

3 (3.9)

2 (5.4)

1 (2.4)

 Cisplatin + 5-FU

1 (1.3)

1 (2.7)

0 (0.0)

0.689*

Total radiation dose

  > 60 Gy

80 (97.6)

38 (97.4)

42 (97.7)

  ≤ 60 Gy

2 (2.4)

1 (2.6)

1 (2.3)

1.000*

Failure in six months, n (%)

10 (12.8)

10 (27.0)

0 (0.0)

<0.001*

 Locoregional failure alone

9 (11.5)

9 (24.3)

0 (0.0)

 Systemic & locoregional failure

1 (1.3)

1 (2.7)

0 (0.0)

Immediate salvage op, n (%)

6 (7.7)

6 (16.2)

0 (0.0)

0.009*