Table 7.

Univariate and multivariate analysis of tumor‐infiltrating CD56⁺ NK cells and other relevant variables as prognostic factors for distant metastases‐free survival (DMFS)

	Univariate				Multivariate
	HR	CIlow	CIupp	p‐Value	HR	CIlow	CIupp	p‐Value
CD56 (high vs. low)	0.31	0.17	0.57	0.0001	0.27	0.13	0.55	0.0004*
Tumor site
Oropharynx vs. oral cavity					0.75	0.33	1.70	0.489
Hypopharynx vs. oral cavity					2.43	0.76	7.74	0.135
pT stage (3–4 vs. 1–2)					2.06	1.05	4.06	0.036*
Resection margin (ECE)					2.35	1.02	5.42	0.044*
HPV16 DNA (pos vs. neg)					0.57	0.17	1.95	0.370
p16 (pos vs. neg)					0.49	0.17	1.40	0.184
p53 (pos vs. neg)					1.66	0.73	3.75	0.227

Abbreviations: HR, hazard ratio; CI_low/upp, lower and upper 95% confidence interval.

Bold values marked with * present p‐values <0.05 and are considered as statistically significant.