J Korean Soc Ther Radiol.  1991 Jun;9(1):59-64.

Results in the Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using Combined Radiotherapy

• Chung SM
• Yoon SC
• Shinn KS
• Bahk YW
• Kim HK
• Lee KS
• Cho SH

Abstract

Thirty-one patients with previously untreated and locally advanced nasopharyngeal caner were retrospectively reviewed for comparing the effects of radical radiotherapy alone with that of combining chemotherapy and radiotherapy from 1983 to 1989 at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital. 23/31 were evaluable for recurrence and survival. There were 8 patients for stageIII , and 15 patients for stageIV. Eleven patients were treated with radical radiation therapy alone (am I). Twelve patients were given 1~3 courses of cisplatin-5FU or cisplatin-bleomycin-vincristine prior to radiation therapy (am II). The two arms were comparable in patients characteristics of 11 radiotherapy patients, complete response was 55% (6/11) and partial response 45% (5/11). Among 12 patients after induction chemotherapy, complete response was 25% (3/12) and partial response 75% (9/12). After subsequent radiotherapy, complete response was increased to 83% (10/12) and partial response was 17% (2/12). Treatment failure was 36% (local recurrence; 3/11, and regional recurrence; 1/11) in arm l and 33% (local recurrence; 1/12, regional recurrence; 2/12 and distant metastasis; 1/12) in arm II. There was no significant difference in survival between am I and arm II (p>.05). The toxicities of treatment were acceptable. More controlled clinical trails must be completed before acceptance of chemotherapy as part of a standard radical treatment for locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.

Keyword

Nasopharyngeal arcinoma; Induction chemotherapy; Radiotherapy; Response to treatment

MeSH Terms

Arm
Drug Therapy
Humans
Induction Chemotherapy
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radiotherapy*
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Failure