The predictive value of the 1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer stage classification in determining failure patterns in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Using the 1997 AJCC staging system, the authors observed a better distribution of patient numbers as well as segregation of survival curves among different stage groups. Moreover, prognostic categories with distinct prognosis and failure patterns were definable by the new system, which has important implications in selecting appropriate patient treatment strategies.