title: Results of chemotherapy plus external reirradiation in the treatment of locally advanced recurrences of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Between 1982 and 1991, 16 patients with recurrent cancer of the nasopharynx were treated with chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT). All patients had received prior RT (45-69, 30 Gy). According to rTNM there were three rT2, one rT3 and 12 rT4. 5 patients were N1. Reirradiation (12-46 Gy, mean: 28) started 3-4 weeks after CT (2-6 cycles of different combinations), but 2 cases involved concomitant therapy. Out of 16 patients 7 had complete response (CR) (43.7%), 7 partial response and 2 no response. Statistically significant prognostic factors for obtaining CR were time of relapse and response to initial CT. Median duration of CR was 22+ months (9-64+). Failures at primary site occurred in 3 patients, 2/2 of those receiving CT without platinum compounds and 1/5 of other ones, with statistically significant difference in local recurrence free-survival between the two groups. Two- and 3-year actuarial overall survival were 28% and 10%. Rates of disease-free survival were 17% and 8%, respectively. The acute toxicity was generally mild. No central nervous system damage or radiation-induced myelitis were observed in survivors.
authors.affiliation: ENT Clinic II, University of Turin, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orecchia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Airoldi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ragona
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bussi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bongioannini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavalot
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D008727:Methotrexate