Weekly cisplatin plus concurrent radiotherapy in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To investigate the clinical effect and toxicity of concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods From February 2007 to February 2009,the retrospective effectiveness and adverse reactions analysis of 38 cases of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma accepted concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT group) and 38 cases of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma accepted radiotherapy alone (RT group).Patients in CCRT group were received radiotherapy combined chemotherapy with DDP [40 mg/(m2/week),7-8 weeks],and patients in RT group were received radiotherapy alone.Results Comparing the CCRT group and RT group,the complete remission rate (CR) was 78.9％ and 71.0％,respectively,P ＞0.05 ; The 3-year local control rate in CCRT group and in RT group was 73.7％ (28/38) and 50.0％(19/38),respectively,P ＜ 0.05.3-year overall survival rate was 68.4％ and 44.7％,respectively,P ＜ 0.05; 3-year distant metastasis-free survival rate was 63.2％ and 39.5％,respectively,P ＜0.05.The incidence of gradeⅢ and Ⅳ leucopenia and nausea and vomiting in CCRT group was significantly higher than that in RT group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Concurrent RT and chemotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma is effective and tolerable. Key words: Nasopharyngeal neoplasm; Cisplain; Concurrent radiochemotherapy