SQUAMOUS CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK - CURED FRACTION AND MEDIAN SURVIVAL-TIME AS FUNCTIONS OF AGE, SEX, HISTOLOGIC TYPE, AND NODE STATUS

The multivariate lognormal survival model can be used to determine the relationship of prognostic covariates to two important parameters of malignancy. Cured fraction and median survival time among uncured pati ents. Analysis with this model revealed that cured fraction is primari ly a function of histologic type and node status, while median surviva l time is primarily a function of age and node status. Patient sex was also related to likelihood of cure, but this association was of margi nal significance. The symmetric impact of node status on both cured fr action and median survival time is consistent with known biologic prin ciples. The strongly asymmetric relationships of histologic grade to c ured fraction and age to survival time suggest, however, that likeliho od of cure and survival time may not operate by identical biologic mec hanisms.