Factors Affecting Outcomes of Alternating Chemoradiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ueno, Takayoshi; Endo, Kazuhira; Kondo, Satoru; Wakisaka, Naohiro; Murono, Shigeyuki; Ito, Makoto; Yoshizaki, Tomokazu
• Is Part Of: Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology. Volume 123:Number 7(2014)
• Page Start: 509
• Page End: 516
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: 5-fluorouracil -- alternating chemoradiotherapy -- cisplatin -- nasopharyngeal cancer -- progression-free survival -- weight loss; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0003489414525122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4894

Abstract

Objective: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is radiosensitive and chemosensitive. We evaluated the efficacy of alternating chemoradiotherapy in patients with advanced NPC. Methods: Alternating chemoradiotherapy was initiated in 30 patients with NPC, and 27 patients with cancer stages II (n = 6), III (n = 8), IVA (n = 9), and IVB (n = 4) were retrospectively analyzed. Chemotherapy was initially administered followed by radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were alternately administered. Of the 27 patients, 22 patients received cisplatin (50 mg/m 2 /day, days 6 and 7) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 800 mg/m 2 /day, days 1-5), whereas 5 patients received carboplatin (AUC 4-5, day 6) and 5-FU. Results: Of the 27 patients, 19 (70%) received 3 chemotherapy courses. The total duration of alternating chemoradiotherapy was 81 to 101 days (median, 90 days). At a median follow-up of 53 months, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 71%. Multivariate analysis showed that weight loss and the number of chemotherapy courses had a significant effect on PFS. Conclusion: Alternating chemoradiotherapy led to similar or higher survival rates compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, which was characterized by good compliance and adaptable intensity.