Table 2.

Multivariable analysis of prognostic factors for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (AKR1C4 included)

Endpoint	Factor	HR (95% CI)	P a
LRFS
	AKR1C4 expression (high vs. low)	3.670 (1.462–9.215)	0.006
	T stage (4 vs. 1/2/3)	4.970 (0.600–41.201)	0.137
	N stage (2/3 vs. 0/1)	1.157 (0.465–2.878)	0.754
	Disease stage (IVa vs. I/II/III)	0.477 (0.057–4.016)	0.496
	EBV DNA (≥ 4000 vs. < 4000) copies/ml	1.834 (0.741–4.539)	0.190
	BMI (≥ 18.5 vs. < 18.5 kg/m2)	0.411 (0.087–1.942)	0.262
	Smoking history (yes vs. no)	2.024 (0.877–4.670)	0.098
OS
	AKR1C4 expression (high vs. low)	1.605 (0.803–3.207)	0.181
	T stage (4 vs. 1/2/3)	3.477 (1.127–10.729)	0.030
	N stage (2/3 vs. 0/1)	3.548 (1.593–7.900)	0.002
	Disease stage (IVa vs. I/II/III)	0.744 (0.232–2.386)	0.619
	EBV DNA (≥ 4000 vs. < 4000) copies/ml	2.194 (1.068–4.508)	0.032
	BMI (≥ 18.5 vs. < 18.5 kg/m2)	0.385 (0.148–1.007)	0.052
	Smoking history (yes vs. no)	1.616 (0.832–3.138)	0.157
PFS
	AKR1C4 expression (high vs. low)	1.576 (0.918–2.705)	0.099
	T stage (4 vs. 1/2/3)	2.680 (1.120–6.408)	0.027
	N stage (2/3 vs. 0/1)	2.302 (1.268–4.180)	0.006
	Disease stage (IVa vs. I/II/III)	0.918 (0.377–2.234)	0.850
	EBV DNA (≥ 4000 vs. < 4000) copies/ml	2.282 (1.293–4.030)	0.004
	BMI (≥ 18.5 vs. < 18.5 kg/m2)	0.537 (0.230–1.254)	0.151
	Smoking history (yes vs. no)	1.718 (1.027–2.875)	0.039
DMFS
	AKR1C4 expression (high vs. low)	1.045 (0.539–2.026)	0.897
	T stage (4 vs. 1/2/3)	2.272 (0.915–5.642)	0.077
	N stage (2/3 vs. 0/1)	3.541 (1.598–7.845)	0.002
	Disease stage (IVa vs. I/II/III)	1.193 (0.462–3.084)	0.715
	EBV DNA (≥ 4000 vs. < 4000) copies/ml	3.012 (1.478–6.139)	0.002
	BMI (≥ 18.5 vs. < 18.5 kg/m2)	0.458 (0.190–1.105)	0.082
	Smoking history (yes vs. no)	1.619 (0.873–3.002)	0.126

Abbreviations: BMI Body mass index, CI Confidence interval, DMFS Distant metastasis-free survival, EBV DNA Epstein-Barr virus deoxyribonucleic acid, HR hazard ratio, LRFS Locoregional relapse-free survival, OS overall survival, PFS progression-free survival

^aBoldface letter: significant