[The use of intervention chemotherapy in comprehensive treatment of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the application of intervention chemotherapy in the comprehensive treatment of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
In 30 patients with advanced NPC, combined intervention chemotherapy with cisplatin (100 mg), 5-fluoro-uracil (1,000 mg) and bleomycin (16 mg) was given by Seldinger's selective unilateral catheterization of the ascending pharyngeal artery or superior maxillary artery. If the lesion had extended over the midline, the intervention chemotherapy encompassed both sides: 2/3 of the dose infused to the side with the major lesion and 1/3 to the other side. Radiotherapy started one week after intervention chemotherapy. A total dose of 60-70 Gy was given to the primary tumor or 50-60 Gy to the cervical metastases in 8 weeks. Fifty patients with advanced NPC treated in the same period of time with radiotherapy alone served as the control. Both groups of patients were treated with 60Co, the duration of treatment and dose splitting were the same.


RESULTS
After intervention chemotherapy, the primary tumor mass reduced in size in 16 patients and the enlarged cervical lymph nodes shrank or became loosened in 12 patients. The radiation dose required to achieve complete response of the primary and metastatic lesions was significantly less as compared to that of patients receiving radiotherapy alone (P < 0.05). At four weeks following completion of radiotherapy, complete response rate in the two groups of patients was 83.3% and 72.0%, respectively (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Intervention chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy is an effective treatment for patients with advanced NPC.
Cui
Y
Y
Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021.
Ma
Y
Y
Wang
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002404:Catheterization; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy