title: Radiation therapy with UFT and low dose weekly cisplatin for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted this study to determine the effectiveness and toxicity of chemoradiation therapy using UFT and low-dose cisplatin in 37 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 1999 and December 2001, 37 patients with newly diagnosed and histologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center were enrolled in this protocol. Cisplatin was administered weekly, starting on day 1 of radiation therapy, as an intravenous infusion at 20 mg/m2 of body-surface area. Oral UFT was administered daily, at a dose of 300 mg in three divided doses. Radiation therapy was given in doses of 1.8-2.0 Gy, 5 days per week, with 4-15 MV photons. The dose of elective nodal area was 60 Gy, and primary tumors and enlarged lymph nodes were boosted with intracavitary brachytherapy or 3D conformal therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients received the planned doses of radiation. Cisplatin was administered for a median of 6 cycles, and 81% of patients received UFT for more than 5 weeks. The complete response rate was 95% for all patients, and the overall response rate was 100%. No patient experienced hematologic toxicity of grade 3 or higher. Five patients experienced grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity but recovered with conservative management. There was no treatment-related hospitalization or death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that UFT and low-dose cisplatin is a safe and effective regimen of concurrent chemoradiation therapy for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnap-Dong, Songpa-Ku, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soon Yuhl
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Sang-wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bong-Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Ja
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Seong Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jin-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil
chemical_list: D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002945:Cisplatin