Table 3 Multivariable analysis of prognostic factors in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Age (≥ 53 vs. < 53 years), sex (male vs. female), pretreatment EBV-DNA level (≥ 400 vs. < 400 copies/mL), tumor stage (T1-2 vs. T3-4), KPS (90–100 vs. 70–80), node stage (N0-1 vs. N2-3)

Progression-free survival

Sex

1.177 (0.342–4.055)

0.796

Age

2.129 (1.043–4.347)

0.038

T stage

0.551 (0.201–1.511)

0.247

N stage

1.061 (0.504–2.234)

0.877

Karnofsky scale

1.061 (0.496–6.144)

0.385

EBV-DNA

1.847 (0.919–3.710)

0.085

DWI-guided dose painting

0.427 (0.220–0.828)

0.012

Local recurrence-free survival

Sex

1.136 (0.326–3.957)

0.842

Age

2.417 (1.087–5.373)

0.030

T stage

0.454 (0.155–1.325)

0.148

N stage

0.736 (0.335–1.617)

0.445

Karnofsky scale

1.975 (0.437–8.918)

0.376

EBV-DNA

1.854 (0.869–3.956)

0.110

DWI-guided dose painting

0.410 (0.195–0.865)

0.019

Locoregional recurrence-free survival

Sex

0.918 (0.307–2.744)

0.878

Age

2.225 (1.061–4.666)

0.034

T stage

0.389 (0.137–1.105)

0.076

N stage

0.799 (0.385–1.657)

0.547

Karnofsky scale

2.074 (0.465–9.250)

0.339

EBV-DNA

1.493 (0.743–3.003)

0.260

DWI-guided dose painting

0.526 (0.268–1.034)

0.063

Distant metastasis-free survival

Sex

1.104 (0.318–3.826)

0.877

Age

2.279 (1.030–5.044)

0.042

T stage

0.419 (0.144–1.224)

0.112

N stage

0.816 (0.373–1.783)

0.610

Karnofsky scale

1.813 (0.407–8.086)

0.435

EBV-DNA

1.514 (0.729–3.146)

0.266

DWI-guided dose painting

0.511 (0.249–1.048)

0.067

Overall survival

Sex

1.067 (0.308–3.697)

0.918

Age

2.288 (1.032–5.070)

0.042

T stage

0.397 (0.136–1.156)

0.090

N stage

0.694 (0.314–1.534)

0.367

Karnofsky scale

1.790 (0.400-8.000)

0.446

EBV-DNA

1.703 (0.807-0.3.593)

0.162

DWI-guided dose painting

0.557 (0.269–1.156)

0.116