title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with continuous infusion of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, with or without leucovorin, for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy has been extensively tested in nasopharyngeal carcinoma for the improvement of local and systemic control and survival of this disease. In this study, we report the results of the treatment with induction chemotherapy in 40 patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the nasopharynx (LANPC) with four courses of cisplatin (P) 25 mg/m2 per day and 5-fluorouracil (F) 1000 mg/m2 per day both in a 4-days continuous infusion, with or without leucovorin (L) 250 mg/m2 per day in 2-hour infusion at the beginning of daily administration of PF, followed by sequential radiotherapy. All except one were in stage IV. The overall response after induction chemotherapy was 93%, with 55% CR and 38% PR. Definitive overall response after radiotherapy was 98%, with 80% CR and 18% PR. At a maximum follow up of 11 years, the overall survival rate is 55%. Induction chemotherapy with continuous infusion of PF with or without leucovorin followed by radiotherapy is a highly active regimen for the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma with response and survival rates comparable to other combinations of sequential or simultaneous chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez-Bernal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soria
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pardal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil