A comparative study of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy or combined treatment with zorubicin-cisplatin and radiotherapy.
Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma has been related to the Epstein-Barr virus. These tumors are known to be radiosensitive and chemosensitive. While radiotherapy (RT) allows for a high rate of local control, 80% of all patients die from or with metastatic spread. This study analyzed 61 patients treated with RT alone and 28 treated with zorubicin (ZRB)-cisplatin (CDDP) and RT between 1977 and 1990. All patients treated with RT received 60-74 Gy in 6-7 weeks. Patients treated with combined therapy received ZRB 250 mg/m2 on the 1st day and CDDP 30 mg/m2 from the 2nd to 5th day. The interval between cycles was 4 weeks. Following treatment with chemotherapy patients were then given RT. The 5-year survival rate was 20% for patients with T1 and T2 tumors when treated with RT alone and 54% when treated with chemotherapy (CT). This was 25% for T3 and T4 lesions with RT only and 27% for RT with CT. Survival of patients with N0 and N1 lesions was 41% after RT and 60% after RT with CT. This decreased to 10% for N2 and N3 lesions treated with RT and 30% with RT and CT.
Pendjer
I
I
Institute of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Krejovic
B
B
Vucicevic
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000821:virology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin; C002205:zorubicin; D003630:Daunorubicin