Clinical study on 3D-CRT combined with nimotuzumab and chemotherapy in the treatment of stages III-IVA nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To explore the effect and safety of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) m combination with nimotuzumab and chemotherapy in treatment patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods 60 patients with stages Ⅲ-ⅣA nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled.All patients were treated with 3D-CRT and concurrent and sequential chemotherapy by paclitaxel and eisplatin and given nimotuzumab 100mg i.v.weekly for 6 ～ 7 weeks before radiotherapy.Results After two months,the complete response rates(CR) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and cervix lymph nodes were 98.3％,96.7％ respectively,l-year locoregional control and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 100％,96.7％ in 38 patients.2-year,3-year locoregional control and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 100％ in 16 patients and 8 patients.The major side effects included oral mucositis,actinodermatitis,neutropenia,nausea,vomiting,and fatigue.Grade 3 acute oral mucositis often occured.No skin rash or allergic toxicities appeared.All the effects were tolerable.Conclusion 3D-CRT combined with nimotuzumab and peclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy may improve the complete response rate and locoregional control and distant metastasis-free survival rate on locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma,with mild to moderate side effects. Key words: Nasopharyngeal neoplasms; Radiotherapy conformal; Chemotherapy