Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40636681›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in oncology2025

Pre-treatment anemia in head and neck cancer: risk factors, subtypes, and survival outcomes.

Cornelius H L Kürten, Vinithagowry Sivakumar, Sebastian Waßenberg, Marie Carolin Schleupner, Valentin Funk, Elena Lazzarini, Sara Aksu, Maja Guberina, Thomas Gauler, Martin Stuschke and 3 more

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Article in Frontiers in oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Cornelius H L KürtenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Vinithagowry SivakumarDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Sebastian Waßenbergpunkt05 Statistikberatung, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Marie Carolin SchleupnerDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Valentin FunkDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Elena LazzariniDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Sara AksuDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Maja GuberinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Thomas GaulerDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Martin StuschkeDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Stefan MattheisDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Stephan LangDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Timon HussainDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia in head and neck cancer (HNC) may be due to additive, overlapping or competing causes. Here we aim to investigate the prevalence of pre-therapeutic anemia, associated risk factors, subtypes, and impact on survival among HNC patients, including the clinically relevant subgroups of HPV-associated HNC. Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of HNC patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2020 identified a study cohort of 921 patients. Every patient was subject to pre-therapeutic laboratory testing which was correlated with clinical data and oncologic outcomes. Results: Pre-therapeutic anemia was present in 18.1% of patients with advanced age, low BMI, systemic inflammation, and kidney dysfunction being significant risk factors for anemia. For oropharyngeal cancers, p16+ status was associated with lower anemia prevalence and offset the impact of smoking history on anemia risk when compared to all HNC patients. 19.2% of patients were hypochromic-microcytic and 4.2% were hyperchromic-macrocytic, indicative of iron or vitamin B12/folate deficiency, respectively. Even mild anemia (11- 12.9 g/d) was associated with a survival disadvantage compared to non-anemic patients (64% vs. 85% overall survival, <0.001). Conclusion: Anemia is a significant negative survival predictor in HNC patients, with severity affecting prognosis. A relevant subgroup of patients had potentially reversible anemia subtypes, early identification and treatment of which may improve outcomes.

Indexed as

cancer associated anemiafolatehead and neck cancerHPV+ oropharyngeal canceriron deficiencymacrocytic anemiasquamous cell carcinomavitamin B12

Identifiers

PMID40636681
PMCPMC12237912

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