In this study, we aimed to develop and validate nomograms for predicting long-term overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in major salivary gland cancer (MSGC) patients. These nomograms were developed using a retrospective cohort (N=4218) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and externally validated using an independent data cohort (N=244). We used univariate, and multivariate analyses, and cumulative incidence function to select the independent prognostic factors of OS and CSS. Index of concordance (c-index) and calibration plots were used to estimate the nomograms' predictive accuracy. The median follow-up period was 34 months (1-119 months). Of 4218 MSGC patients, 1320 (31.3%) died by the end of the follow-up; of these 1320 patients, 883 (20.9%) died of MSGC. The OS nomogram, which had a c-index of 0.817, was based on nine variables: age, sex, tumor site, tumor grade, surgery performed, radiation therapy and TNM classifications. The CSS nomogram, which had a c-index of 0.829, was based on the same nine variables plus race. External validation c-indexes were 0.829 and 0.807 for OS and CSS, respectively. Based on SEER database, we have developed nomograms predicting five- and eight-years OS and CSS for MSGC patients with perfect accuracy. These nomograms will help clinicians customize treatment and monitoring strategies in MSGC patients.
Keywords: cancer-specific survival; head and neck; major salivary gland cancer; nomograms; overall survival.